Ghana to participate in Junior Football Championship

Takoradi April.13, GNA -An Under 12 football team for boys and Under 15 girls' team have been raised to represent Ghana at the 2006 FIFA World Junior Football Championship scheduled to take place in Germany in May and June.

Mr Donkris Mevuta, Executive Director of the "Friends of the Nation", a Non-Governmental Organisation announced this at a Press Conference in Takoradi on Thursday.

He said "Friends of the Nation" selected the teams from the Western Region on the invitation and authorisation of the organisers of the championship, a German Club, Vellmar and the City of Vellmar with support from the Deutsche Fussball Bund. Mr Mevuta said the 'Friends of the Nation' in collaboration with Hasaacas F/C and the Sports Division of the Wassa West District Education Office organised a series of justifiers' for the selection of the players.

He said about 15 other countries are to participate in the championship.

Mr Mevuta said the countries included Costa Rica, Russia, Ireland, Austria, Poland, Paraquay, Romania, Switzerland, New Zealand, China, Bulgaria and South Africa.

He said about 50,000 Euro or 500 million cedis is needed for the travel expenses of the teams to Germany to participate in the tournament. Mr Mevuta said the organisers would bear the cost of accommodation, meals and excursion of the teams while in Germany. He said so far, some companies in the Region have made a total contribution of 78 million cedis while the Germans have contributed 2,000 Euros.

Mr Mevuta appealed to organisations and individuals to assist to cover the travelling expenses of the teams. 13 April 06