Can Ghana Host The Amputee African Cup?

Theodore M. K. Viwotor a. k. a. Solomon Davids, from Argentina

We were all excited in Argentina when we heard of Ghana being given the mandate not only to host the next African Congress of the Amputee Football Federation of Africa (AFFA), but also the most demanding African Cup of Nations Tournament in 2011. This came as a result of Mr. Francis Adjetey Sowah’s nomination as the president of the Federation during the World Cup at Crespo, Argentina.
Questions started running through our minds as we reflected on the experience that preceded the National Team, the Black Challenge’s departure from Ghana to take part in the just ended tournament. If Ghana struggled to raise money for the team to go to Argentina, how can they raise money to host a tournament of such magnitude? Would government and Corporate Ghana promptly respond, this time around, to an appeal for sponsorship of the tournament? Do we have the facilities? What about the passion from the public?

In spite of all these, we had a strong conviction that Ghana can host the tournament successfully to the envy of the rest of Africa. This conviction stems from a lot of factors. The first is the fact that Sierra Leone, rebuilding after a devastating civil war, were able to host the first one in 2007, which Ghana won to become the first African champions (even with that the Black Challenge were not recognized by the nation as has always been done even for underachievers). Another factor was that Ghana have hosted the much bigger African Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the able bodied on some occasions so this should not be a big problem, especially if the entire nation is committed to the cause of the disabled.
The most assuring factor is that Corporate Ghana is well endowed to foot the bill for a tournament like this without any financial headache. There is no need mentioning names, but if at least ten (10) companies in the country decide to take upon themselves the responsibility of hosting this tournament, it would be very successful without any big financial repercussions to them. With some ten (10) countries gathering in Accra for a week or so, the nation should not have any excuse at all for failing to host them.
It is, therefore, the responsibility of the leadership of Amputee football in the country to put their acts together to drum home the need for the entire nation to support this laudable cause that has the potential of bringing Ghana more respect across the globe. The leaders need not rest their oars after the success in Argentina but start looking at 2011 with more seriousness than ever before.
I would, at this juncture draw their attention, though they know this more than I do, to key areas they need to consider in their preparations towards hosting the tournament, pitches, accommodation, transportation, feeding, officiating, publicity and security, among others. When these are well taken care of, one can be assured of a successful hosting of the tournament. Ghana have gained a lot of respect in the eyes of the world for placing 6th in the world and being the first African country to ever reach the quarterfinals of the 60 year old competition, besides the enviable record of first African Champions. A hitch free hosting of this tournament would further enhance the nation’s image and bring about a lot of benefits.
To Corporate Ghana, this is an opportunity to make amends after failing the team prior to their departure. With the exception of T.T. Brothers, Nestle Ghana Ltd, COCOBOD, Cranswick Pet & Aquatics Ltd, Krypton Global Ltd, Unibank, African Environmental and Consultancy Company, and an anonymous company, Corporate Ghana failed the Black Challenge. If the companies in the country could not put together some $80,000.00 to enable the team take part in the tournament and had to look on as Mr. Adjetey Sowah, president of the Association of Sports for the Disabled (ASFOD), a disabled, struggled to climb stairs from office to office, media house to media house to beg for money, then they should all bow down their heads in shame and use this new avenue to make amends. If they can spend millions of Ghana Cedis on some of the activities they refer to as social responsibility, but cannot help vulnerable but determined people as amputee footballers, then they need to take a second look at their social responsibility activities.
Supporting Amputee football means a lot. Besides the entertainment aspect, Amputee football serves as an avenue for giving meaning to the lives of our unfortunate brothers, who, through no fault of theirs, have become disabled or physically challenged. Some of them could have ended up begging in the streets or wasted their time on earth. As the saying goes, anyone can become disabled at anytime so let us all support them.
I am using this medium to begin an appeal for sponsorship for their congress and most importantly, the hosting of the African Cup of Nations scheduled for September, 2011. We cannot afford to fail them again.
Beautifully dressed ladies ready to entertain the crowd at the Amputee World Cup in Argentina
Indefatigable Mr. Francis Adjetey Sowah in solidarity with Sr. Admiral Cruz De Almeida, xresident of World Amutee Football Federation (WAFF).
The Argentine fans always trooped to the stadium at all times to show their love to the amputees