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Soccer News of Friday, 8 February 2002

Source: This Day (Lagos)

GFA Woos Nike for Black Stars

In spite of Adidas present contract with Black Stars of Ghana, the country's Football Association (GFA) is still sourcing for more sponsorship for the team that crashed out of this year's Nations Cup in quarter-final.

GFA, at the moment, is wooing Adidas' rival - NIKE, and the United States-based sports kits manufacturing conglomerate is showing keen interest in edging-out its rival in Ghana.

Abedi Ayew Pele, GFA member who disclosed this to THISDAYSports in Mali said they were open to more sponsorship so as to raise fund for the Black Stars.

He said when the present GFA board came on, Black Stars had no sponsor but in six months of the board's existence, it was able to secure Adidas and Guinness Ghana plc as their sponsors.

"When we came, there was nothing. But in six months, we've done so many things. We 've got Adidas sponsoring us to the highest level with Guinness doing some little things for us. For the moment, this is our internal problem but we are making sure that we overcome it.

"We are open to more sponsors who are willing to identify with us and come for discussions. We've left the doors open and hope that our aim to rebuild the Black Stars for 2006 World Cup will instil confidence in prospective sponsors," he said. Abedi said Ghanaians feel terribly bad seeing Black Stars consistently crashing out of World Cup qualifiers and added that it was his Management's fervent target to re-build a team that that will take Ghana to the World Cup in 2006.

"That's why we are building for the future. We 've got young guys who will be there up to 2006. We 've started by using this tournament as a platform for the boys to gain some confidence and taste some international level matches. It's been very very difficult. But we are getting a good response.

"To succeed in management, you have to go through some port-holes and rough patches here and there. But we believe in our dreams and we will get there," he assured.