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Soccer News of Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Source: Sammy Heywood Okine

Die hard Supporters proud

...to be rewarded by SWAG



Die Hard Sports Supporters Group led

by Abraham Nkansah are very grateful to Almighty God, the Sports Authorities

and the Sports Media for recognising their contributions to the promotion and

development of sports in Ghana.



Abraham Nkansah popularly called “Apirigu

Chakapama” said his vision for forming his group is not solely to travel, but

support every sporting discipline and make it attractive to encourage the

participants and spectators.



He noted that if the opportunity

comes to travel they will go, but it is not by force that they have to go to

every tournament.



“We are a special group that is why

the Sports Authority and popular sports companies invite us. We are the best

that is why the Sports Writers Association of Ghana honoured us as the first

and best supporting group to be rewarded at a national function like the SWAG

Awards event where we stood on the same podium with top stars like Mahatma

Otoo, Kwadwo Asamoah, Priscilla Okyere, Didi Dramani, Duke Micah, Osumanu

Adama, Amos Kobla and the Black Maidens at the 38th SWAG Awards at

the Banquet Hall of the State House” he commented.



According to Nkansah, Die Hard was

formed with a mission and vision to grow and promote Ghana sports that is why

they are into boxing, athletics, cycling, weightlifting, basketball, handball,

volleyball, table tennis, tennis, beach soccer, golf, hockey, swimming, chess,

scrabble, ampe, taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, badminton, body building, rugby,

cricket, rowing and canoeing, baseball and in fact all sporting events in Ghana

and they sing best, clap best and cheer best.



He said their hall mark is

discipline and they are not only to support but some of their members are

sportsmen and women who know about the rules and regulations of sporting

programmes and the sports themselves.

He thanked the SWAG for honouring

them as the first and best and promised to keep on with the discipline and

cheering all sports activities.

Abraham Nkansah said they are spread

in all regions, but due to financial difficulties only a few of them get the

chance to travel to support the Ghana sports teams outside Ghana and appealed

to companies to help them when it comes to securing sponsorship for world class

events like the FIFA World Cup and African Cup of Nations.



“We are known as Die Hard Sports

Supporters because we die for sports and what we can do none can do. We are the

best and the neatest. We are for sports development and promotion, so we are of

a special standard and class that is why three of our members were awarded

special prizes at the 2013 African Nations Cup in South Africa” he narrated.



He urged Ghanaians to pray hard that

the Black stars overcome Zambia in the last but one qualifier and go on to win

the last match to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.



He said Brazil must be a must for

Ghana because Ghana is the Brazil of Africa and Ghana is the only nation that

can match Brazil boot for boot and beat them as it has happened before when

Dede Ayew led the Ghana Under 20 team to beat Brazil at the finals of the 2009

Under 20 World Championship in Egypt.



He stressed that he is going all out

to support Ghana even if he will die at sports meetings, want to brand, market

and reap from his toils.



He welcomed the coming together all

40 supporters groups in Ghana with the formation of a coalition and monitoring

of their activities as some may have different aims, objectives and goals that

are opposite to even the FIFA Fair Play policy.



“Chakapama” as he also loves to

answer to said companies can gain a lot if they are linked to a transparent and

cooperating group like the Ghana Die Hard Sports Supporters Union.