... to be played in Accra and Cape Coast

The president of the
Ghana Rugby Association (GRA) Madam Gifty Anna - Mayers has called of private
companies to support sports, especially the least finance ones as it is a big
avenue for advertising and promotioms.
Speaking at the launch
of the 2013 / 14 Senior S Rugby League, she thanked the Ghana Olympic Committee
(GOC) headed by Professor Francis Dodoo for ensuring that Ghana had the Olympic
Solidarity support for Rugby for the first time, and was very thankful to the
International
Olympic Committee (IOC) for supporting Ghana to unearth more talents.
She revealed that
plans are advanced to see that Ghana participates in the qualifying series to
participate in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
According to Madam
Annan - Myers, since Ghana started playing Rugby ten years ago, much has been
gained.
She said most of the
pioneer playes have formed clubs which has developbed into the Ghan Rugby Union
and they have a league which had been competitive despite that fact that Cosmos
Buffalos have dominated and won most times.
She urges the other
clubs to train harder and win to make the competition more interesting to
attract more sponsors.
The president
commended Beaufort Properties
Limited for supporting Rugby over the years.
Elvina, a
representative of Beaufort Properties who addressed the ceremony said her company
wants to see Ghahanians fit and happy. She said not every body loves football
or boxing as they has big interest in Rugby and want other companies to join in
the support and promotion.
Kwame Amponfi Jnr. The
Greater Accra Regional Sports Director said the National Sports Authority (NSA)
has been doing its best with its meager budget for all the over 30 sporting
disciplines ans associations.
He congratulated he
GRA for finding financial support in the private sector and promised that the
government will certainly support associations who put in some efforts to attract
sponsorship and are seen to be organies and working hard.
He praised the coaches
in the Greater Accra region who have made the region number one in the sport
and other disciplines.
The league begins on
December 14 at Cape Coast and continues on Januaruy 11 in Accra, then January
25 in Cape Coast before the finals in Legon, Accra on Febuary 8, 2014. The
venues are the Robert Mensah stadium and University of Ghana, Legon.
At stake is a trophy
and cash prize of 1000ghc for the winners, 500ghc for the runners up and 300ghc
for the third placers.
Daniel Kenaz MensahSecretary
General of the Ghana Rugby Association said this year’s league would be
competive and more interesting because an awareness had been created and more people
are getting to know the rules and regulations of the sport and since it started
at the schools, most students know much about the dos and donts and are looking
forward for more international matches abd exposure.
The teams vying for honours in Ghana
Rugby are Cosmos Buffalos, Dansoman Hurricans, Oguaman Ocean Warriors, Legon Titans,
Accra Sharks and Aggrey Oguaman RSC from Cape Coast.
Othes are Abora Bombers and Black Panthers
as well as Ideas Sports and Mfanstigates of Cape Coast.
Reverend Qarcoo, a member of the GOC who
graced the launch said sports is a way of changing lives for the better and
urged the Rugby playets to remain focused and train hard as their effort could yield
them a slot at the 2016 Olympic Games and more support will come it they are
well organized and are seen to be competitive.
He hinted that the GOCis ready to
support girls ans womens Rugby, especially at the tertiary level where the
students would be helped to showcase theur skills and talents and rewarded
financially or in kind.
He said the GOC is going to organize more
traing programs for players, coaches and team managers as wel as the media who
have supported the sport over the years.
He promised to collaborate with other
stakeholders and sponsors to push Rugby in Ghana forward.
All the ten participarting clubs were
presented with balls approved by the International Rugby Board (IRB)