House lauds Black Stars

Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Page 3, Feb 9, 2008

MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) yesterday congratulated the management, handlers and players of the Senior National Team, the Blacks Stars, on reaching the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in the past 12 years.
They called on the players and handlers to put their defeat by the Camerounians, which shattered the country’s dream of hosting and winning the Ghana 2008, behind them and look forward for greater laurels in future.
The MPs were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MP for Chiana-Paga, Mr Abuga Pele, on the performance of the team in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
He stated that the nation as a whole must congratulate the players on their heroic and gallant exit, saying that “they displayed absolute commitment and selfless dedication to a national cause worthy of emulation by all”.
Mr Pele said the House appreciated the sacrifice that went into their efforts and wished the team better luck during the third place match against Cote d’Ivoire in Kumasi on Saturday.
The MP reminded the Ghana Football Association about the need to start preparing for the CAN 2010 in Angola and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Mr Pele called for hard decisions such as the retention of the coach or otherwise, funding and sponsorship, and a clear vision on the kind of friendly matches to play, adding that these decisions should be taken early enough.
Contributing to the debate, the MP for Shai Osudoku, Mr David Tettey-Assumeng, asked Ghanaians not to be discouraged by the team’s lost but rally behind the team to beat their Ivorian counterparts on Saturday.
He suggested that members of the team should be rewarded with a house each to encourage them to continue to print the name of Ghana in letters of gold in the world of football.
For his part, the Second Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, said the defeat of Nigeria by the Black Stars was the climax of the tournament and urged Ghanaians to take consolation in that feat.
“Let us, therefore ,not run down the handlers and players of the national team but keep them together to be a team that could win future tournaments,” he said.
The Minority Chief Whip, Mr John Tia, said the tournament had taught Ghanaians that with unity of purpose, the country could achieve its set objectives.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, suggested that players who emerged as goal kings in the local league should be included in the national team to enable them to polish up their goal-scoring prowess.
Most of the MPs who contributed to the statement were of the opinion that the core members of the team should be maintained, beefed up and prepared adequately to be a winsome side while the technical team should be maintained.