(From Caesar Abagali, GNA Special Correspondent, Lima, Peru) Courtesy: PureJoy Fruit Juice

Lima, September 25, GNA - Ghana's U-17 National team, the Black Starlets are now expected to leave Lima, Peru on Friday, September 30 to arrive in Ghana on Sunday, October 2.

The Starlets failed to advance to the quarter-final stage at the FIFA Under -17 Youth championship as Costa Rica and China won the Group A tickets leaving Ghana and host nation Peru in the blue. Mr Fred Crentsil, Chairman of Starlets management team told the GNA Sports in an interview on Sunday at Lima that the one month visas presented to contingent by the Brazilian Embassy had expired and has to be renewed on Monday to enable them travel back home.

He said due to the tournament, all flights back to Brazil were fully booked, a situation that has made it very difficult for the team to secure early passage before their departure on September 30.

Mr Crentsil however gave the assurance that it would not be difficult to secure visas for the contingent to return home since Mr Yaw Agyei, Ghana`s Ambassador to Brazil was doing everything to secure the visas for the contingent.

Mr Agyei visited the team's camp on Saturday evening and consoled them on their gallant output at the tournament.

Speaking to the GNA Sports later, Mr Agyei said the performance of the team was satisfactory and that although they had been kicked out they never lost a single match.

He catalogued a number of frustrations that the boys had to go through before arriving in Brazil as part of their training tour before the tournament.

"The boys deserve commendation even though they could not progress any further" and therefore called on Ghanaians to give them a rousing welcome on their arrival.

Mr Agyei said even the host nation Peru could not perform better than the Starlets but their supporters still gave them a rousing welcome back to Lima after losing their last two matches. The Starlets successive all draw games in three matches in Group A against host nation Peru, Costa Rica and China were not enough to secure them a place at the quarter final stage and thus failing to advance in the FIFA Under 17 championship.