The President of the Ghana Beach Soccer Association, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has congratulated the newly elected President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ahmad Adama of Madagascar for his resounding victory.
Ampofo Ankrah stated that he is not surprised by the feat chalked by the Madagascar FA chief because Ahmad has championed the course of grassroots football and beach soccer for the past decade.
The sports journalist who heads beach soccer in Ghana recalls how he first met Ahmad in Morocco when Ghana made her debut appearance at the African Beach Soccer championship.
"It's a small world I'm very happy that Ahmad is the new CAF President. Believe me it's not a mere lucky win".
Ampofo Ankrah explained that the new CAF boss is a visionary.
"As far as back as 2013, he told me beach soccer will be the next big thing in Africa so we should be patient and make sacrifices until the time for lift off. He is passionate about grassroots football too so his election comes as a good news for all of us".
Ahmad and some GBSA officials in 2013
In 2015, Ahmad introduced an ambitious football development plan for his native Madagascar which included 1million dollars to fund a five year project for beach soccer.
The results were almost instant as Madagascar shocked the heavyweights of African beach soccer to win their first title at the maiden beach soccer Afcon in Seychelles.
The victory took them to the Beach Soccer World Cup in Portugal and has firmly rooted Madagascar as a genuine potential beach soccer nation.
The CAF Presidency results could potentially revive the sleeping giant of World football to once again believe in thinking outside the box to improve football on the continent and impact the world stage.