Kotoko-Liberty clash in charity match

Accra, Dec 23, GNA - As a prelude to the prestigious GHALCA Top Four competition which kick-starts on January 11, defending League champions Kumasi Asante Kotoko will lock horns with Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals in a special charity match at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Sunday, January 4.

The match is meant to raise about 500 million cedis to cater for the needs of at least 200 AIDS orphans and a hundred HIV infected people country-wide.

The organizers, Pro-link and One Village Foundation, Non-Governmental Organisations, (NGOs) based in Tema, said at the launch on Tuesday that the money will be used to provide food, education requirements, health needs and cloths for HIV affected people especially the orphans.

One of such orphans, Akos, 13, the second of three children of deceased AIDS parents narrated the financial difficulties she and her siblings are facing.

Her emotional presentation got to the crescendo when she chipped in that her senior brother, 18, now acts as the head of "their alienated family", and this undoubtedly touched the hearts of those present. Mr Kafui Amenu Prebbie, Country Director of One Village and Mrs Bernice Heloo of Pro-link, both emphasized the devastating nature of the AIDS pandemic and how society through sports can help raise money to assist such orphans.

The NGOs said they intend to use celebrated sports personalities and clubs as linchpins to reach their target groups.

Mr Silas Tetteh, Head Coach of Liberty Professionals told the GNA Sports in an interview that it is the club's resolve to dent the pride and euphoria currently being enjoyed by Kotoko and possibly put an end to the Kumasi-based club dominance over them.

Conspicuously missing at the function though was a representative of the Fabulous Club, Kotoko.