AFCON dream of Ghana's Black Sharks kept alive

A contingent of fifteen players, two coaches and three team officials of the national beach soccer team, The Black Sharks, yesterday left Accra to Addis Ababa en route Seychelles for Afcon 2015.

The Black Sharks of Ghana will be taking part in the maiden edition of the Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations after qualifying to compete in the tournament just over four weeks ago.

Beach Soccer Ghana founder and President, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, thanked sponsors and donors for coming to the aid of the team. He also confirmed that the air tickets for the trip had been secured through the intervention of Transport Minister, Honourable Dzifa Attivor.

The Transport Minister has so far helped raise an amount of GHC40,000.00 for the Black Sharks with Voltic Mineral Water and Global Access Savings and Loans Company Ltd all coming on board to support.

Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, who did not travel with the team commended the Minister's efforts describing her as "an action lady and a god-mother to the Black Sharks".

Meanwhile, Voltic Mineral Water have also presented an amount of GHC10,000 and GHC2, 000 worth of drinks to the Sharks respectively.

However, Beach Soccer Ghana's special request to CAL Bank for the early release of their sponsorship package for next year has been approved by the bank who have already spent $20,000 on the team so far in 2015.

Another morale boosting donation to the Black Sharks has come from Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) with an amount of Gh20,000 cedis

Ghana, now ranked number five in African beach soccer after the formation of the national team in 2013, is in Group B alongside African champions Senegal, North African campaigners, Morocco and Madagascar whose top sporting discipline is now beach soccer.

Speaking to reporters just before departure, Captain Michael Sema said that the Sharks have nothing to lose and will be going all out in every single match to bring honour to Ghana. Head coach Nii Kotey Addo also assured a fighting display from his players after going through tough preparations over a three week period of camping.

Ghana will open her campaign with a big test against respected beach soccer nation Madagascar on Tuesday followed by Morocco and Senegal.