Rousing welcome for Stars

The Vice-President, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Ammisah- Arthur, yesterday urged the Black Stars to  focus on the future and not to be overly disturbed about their failure  to win the  2015 AFCON trophy.

Welcoming the team back  home after the 2015 AFCON tournament, the Vice-President told the players that  with age as their main weapon, they should offer their best in their respective clubs to enable them to be in top shape to  win the 2017 tournament that Ghana was likely to host.

Commending the players for exhibiting high standard performance  throughout the tournament, he said it was luck that eluded the team and eventually  denied them the ultimate trophy when they met the Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire in the grand finale.

A  massive crowd, comprising  the various supporters groups in the country, was at the airport to welcome the players, amidst drumming  and dancing. 

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga, together with the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyatakyi, and some management members of the Black Stars led the players to the VIP lounge at the Kotoko Internationa Airport  the welcoming party made up of government officials.

And  as if by design, each of the Ayew brothers  entered with a baby just as their father held them after losing on penalties to the Elephants during the 1992 edition of the AFCON.

.” If it were a boxing contest, you would have won on points because you overwhelmed your opponents.”  the Vice-President noted.

He also commended the technical  and medical team for their efforts and urged them to continue offering their best to transform the team  to be the best on the continent and beyond.

Earlier, the FA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, had recounted that  before their departure to Equatorial Guinea, many Ghanaians had written them off, especially considering the poor performance of the team in the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil, but their performance  in Equatorial Guinea proved otherwise.

He attributed the outstanding performance of the Black Stars to discipline, dedication and commitment and said the players were prepared to improve on that performance  for them to conquer Africa at the next tournament.

 Skipper Asamoah Gyan expressed his profound gratitude to Ghanaians for their tremendous support, which, he said, motivated the players  to exhibit such high class performance .