Soccer News of Thursday, 11 September 2008

Source: GNA

Aspire Africa Football Dreams selection of players begins Sept. 30

Accra, Sept 11, GNA - The final selection process of players for this year's 'Aspire Africa Football Dreams Project' will begin on Monday, September 11 at the El-Wak Stadium, Accra. The Football Dreams Project is a unique venture in the world of football aimed at discovering and powering young promising football talents born in 1995.

Captain (Rtd) Andy Sam, Country Director for Aspire Africa said at the media launch on Thursday that the Project which will last till Saturday, October 4 will involve 50 players selected from an earlier nation-wide screening exercise. "The selected 50 players will undergo final training to earn scholarships to attend the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence in Doha, Qatar."

Capt. Sam explained that the 50 players will be accommodated in adapted facilities and will be trained by famous national coaches. He said three players will be selected at the final event to represent Ghana at the worldwide famous Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar. Dr Alloysius Denkabe, Member of the Black Stars Management Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) pledged his outfit's support for the Project which seeks to unearth sporting talents at the youth level.

He said the GFA shares vision of Aspire Africa and urged the organizers to link-up with the GFA to map put strategies towards the development of Ghana football. This the second edition of the Football Dreams project in Ghana alongside Senegal, Cameroon, Nigeria, Vietnam, Mali, Paraguay, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The three best talents after the one-month stint in Qatar will follow on with their education and career at the Aspire Academy. Three Ghanaians selected from the maiden edition are currently in Qatar pursuing academic and sporting laurels.