Victorious Satellites return home

The victorious Black Satellites, the national Under-20 football team that won gold at the World Youth Championships in Egypt arrived back home late Saturday night.

The contingent of players, technical handlers and officials arrived at the Kotoka International Airport aboard an Egyptian Airline Boeing 737 to a tumultuous welcome by a large crowd of football fans and other compatriots.

Dressed smartly in black suits over white shirts and clutching the three diadems the team won at the tournament – the championship’s topmost gold trophy, the Golden Boot as well as the tournament’s Best Player awards won by Dominic Adiyiah, the contingent which included GFA President Kwasi Nyantakyi, was welcomed by Vice President John Dramani Mahama.

Hundreds of football enthusiasts draped in the national colours and holding miniature national flags had besieged the VIP wing of the airport several hours ahead of the arrival of the heroes, and security personnel deployed to supervise the reception had plenty to do controlling the crowd.

In brief speeches, Kwasi Nyantakyi, skipper Andre Dede Ayew and coach Sellas Tetteh expressed gratitude for the prayers and support of all Ghanaians and Africans in general and for rooting behind the team in the finals against brazil. They were also grateful to the government for its timely payment of bonuses and words of encouragement which they said were very crucial as motivation to go for the ultimate. They also praised God for blessing the nation with the uncommon honour.

Vice President Mahama praised the team’s fighting spirit and during the final game, there were moments when all hopes seemed lost, however the team managed to give the game all their best and emerged victors at end. He assured the team of “appropriate” reward for the honour they have brought to the nation.

He said several corporate bodies have announced rewarding packages for the team and assured that the presidency with liaise with the Ghana Football Association to organize all such activities to fittingly reward their labour.

A float of the players and the trophies has been planned for some of the principal streets of Accra on Monday.

Story by Isaac Yeboah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana