Beach Soccer Ghana in debt, pleads for tournament deadline extension

The President of the Ghana Beach Soccer Association (GBSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has written to Beach Soccer Worldwide in Spain to extend the deadline for submission of Ghana's team list for the African Elite Trophy scheduled for Durban from the 4th of March 2015.

The Black Sharks are struggling to raise the necessary funds to honour the invitation after being told by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Football Association that there is no money to support the trip.

The association is still in debt having credited tickets to honour their last international outing at the Copa Lagos in December 2014.

Just last week, CAL Bank announced a yearly sponsorship package of $20,000 US dollars for Ghana Beach Soccer. This amount still falls short of what the contingent of 15 players and 3 officials will need for local camping, tickets and team logistics for the tournament.

The Black Sharks are also due to face Uganda home and away in search of a slot for the maiden Afcon Beach Soccer tournament in Seychelles.

Meanwhile the spokesperson for Beach Soccer Ghana, George Addo has stated that the 2015 league may commence just before the Durban tournament to keep teams active and players fit for upcoming international engagements.

"We cannot afford to just sit back and wait for support so we are being proactive in the hope that additional sponsors and donors will come forward".

The Black Sharks of Ghana are currently ranked 7th on the continent and 69th by FIFA after only two international tournaments. Ghana was also adjudged the most improved team of 2014.

The Championship and Division leagues in Ghana comprising 10 teams each are the only such competitive beach soccer leagues in Africa.

The Championship will be hosted in Durban South Africa in just about 12 days.