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Soccer News of Thursday, 20 December 2001

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Satellites to play in South Africa

The National Under 21 and 23 Soccer teams are to be assembled for a four-nation tournament in South Africa from January 20 to 27.

In this regard the technical teams of the squads are expected to meet with the Management Committee on Thursday, December 20 at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) secretariat to work out the modalities for the tournament.

In a letter addressed to members of the two committees, the General Secretary of the GFA listed selection of players and planning of training programmes as matters high on the agenda.

The GNA Sports Desk speculations are rife that the team would consist of members of the national Under 17 side, the Black Starlets who failed to qualify for the last World Under 17 championship, staged in Trinidad and Tobago.

Isaac Paha, coach of Sekondi Eleven Wise, heads the technical team of the Satellites, which also includes Alhaji Maikano, Welfare Officer, Alhaji Dodoo Ankrah, goalkeeper's trainer and Dr. Adjapong, team doctor.

The management committee of the Satellites consists of Mr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, vice chairman of the GFA, Mr Kwesi Acheampong of Obuasi Goldfields F/C and Alhaji Karim Grunsah, financier of King Faisal.

The rest are Mr Ernest Quarshie of Accra Hearts of Oak Management Committee and Mr Fred Pappoe, secretary to the Accra Great Olympics Management Board.

Most of the Satellites players who won silver medals at the World Youth Championship in Argentina early this year have graduated into the senior national team, the Back Stars and are vying for positions in the CAN 2002 squad.

Meanwhile, GNA Sports Desk investigations revealed that though the head coach of the silver winning team, Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie has been re-designated as the Technical Coordinator of the Northern Sector, he has not been officially appointed.

The coach told the GNA Sports that he is an employee of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and anybody who wants to re-assign him must seek clearance from his employers.