Soccer News of Thursday, 1 September 2005

Source: --

It's A 'Do And Die' Affair -Duya

OBUASI SOCCER FANS yesterday gave the Senior National team, the Black Stars, the moral-booster the players deserve to motivate them to face their Ugandan counterparts on Sunday as they thronged the Len Clay sports stadium to watch them at training.

The fans who were impressed by the work-rate of the players, yelled especially anytime the skipper, Stephen Appiah made moves.

Fifteen players made up of seven foreign-based ones and eight locals took part in the morning session.

The foreign-basedplayers included Joe Tex Frimpong, Matthew Amoah, Laryea Kingston, Godwin Attram, Aminu Dramani and John Painstill whilst Issah Ahmed, Sammy Adjei, George Owu, Shilla Alhassan , Abubakari Yahuza, Azziz Ansah and Yussif Chibsah represented the local players.

Speaking to the press, the Vice Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, Mr. Akwasi Acheampong Owuohene said the team was well focused since they were aware Ghana had not qualified for the world cup yet.

"We will qualify only after the last match and there is no room for complacency," he said.

Mr Owuahene gave the assurance that the team would tackle Sunday's game with the seriousness it deserved, adding, " our destiny, our faith are in our own hands."

He therefore called on Ghanaians to remember the team in their prayers.

On his part, the head coach of the Black stars, Ratomir Dujkovic said the team was working hard to win Sunday's game, adding, "the match on Sunday is a do and die battle for us, so we are taking it serious.

He said the time had come for the nation to break the record that, Ghana had never won a match against Uganda.

"We need to change history because, as you know, for many years, the country has not been able to beat Uganda and this is the time."

He pointed out that the team would need the three points on Sunday to enable them continue with their journey to Germany. The coach who could not predict the scoreline on Sunday, when asked about their chances, said " I believe we will win the match on Sunday."

He was impressed about the facilities at the Len clay stadium, adding Obuasi has almost all the needed facilities for the team to train with.