Starlets Fund launched

The Arab Contractors, Kingsby take lead By Felix Abayateye A.O. Promotions, in conjunction with the Ghana Football Association at the weekend launched an appeal to raise funds towards the preparation for and participation of the national U-17 team, Black Starlets, at next month's FIFA World U-17 Soccer Championship in Egypt. A target sum of ?500 million is being solicited to be used to augment the players' bonuses and take care of other activities which would motivate and enhance the performance of the Starlets in their task of defending the championship trophy won by their predecessors at the last tournament in Ecuador in 1995, and to win the cup for keeps at Ghana's third triumph, having first won the tournament in 1991 in Italy. Launching the appeal fund at the Kingsby Hotel in Accra last Saturday, Dr. K. Adu Baffour, Managing Director of Kingsby Hotel offered to accommodate and feed the players for free for as long as they remain in camp in the country preparing for the world championship, as his contribution to the fund. The Chairman of the GFA Nana Brew-Butler, who also chaired the function, announced that The Arab Contractors (Ghana) of which he is a director, in consultation with the parent company in Egypt, has decided to sponsor the last leg of the Starlets training and preparations in Egypt to the tune of about $70,000. He said the Starlets are expected to be in Egypt by the 25th of this month for final preparations and acclimatisation before kick-off to the competition on September 4, and for the 10 days that the team will be in Egypt, their stay will be funded by The Arab Contractors. Acorn Forex Bureau, whose Managing Director, Mr. Joseph Ade Coker, is also the Chairman of the Black Starlets Management Committee and member of the GFA, donated ?500,000. to the fund. Other sources of revenue to the fund are to come from direct company appeals, sale of souvenirs and coupons. Mr Acheampong-Owoahene, Managing Director of A.O. Promotions is also the co-ordinator of the fund, and all payments are to be lodged in a special account at Cal Merchant Bank opened for the fund. The Account No. is 21-585-011. The launching ceremony was also graced by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports and MP for Saboba Mr Moses Mabengba and Mr Abraham Kofi Asante, member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports and MP for Amenfi West-Asankragua.