Gemini Life Insurance Company (GLICO) insurance, sponsors of the GHALCA Top 4 Tournament yesterday presented ?1 billion life cover package to GHALCA, the organisers of the tournament, to cover the players representing the various clubs.

In addition to that, GLICO contributed ?10 million to the organisers as its widow's mite towards the organisation of the competition which kicks off on January 11, 2004.

Aside that offer, a consistent player of the impending competition will be awarded ?1,500,000 or a double Decker Fridge; the most clinical goal to be scored during the tournament will also earn the scorer 6 months life cover plus ? 1,000,000 cash, while the best referee will go home with ?20,000, 000. life cover for one year plus ?1,000,000 cash.

Presenting the insurance package, the Executive Director of GLICO, Mr Edward Forkuo Kyei, said since sports ensure good health to sustain life, his management would continue to support it in that direction and to ensure that Ghana football was placed at its desirable position.

"Despite the giant strides Ghana is making in democratic governance, "our name keeps missing from the roll-call of elite sporting nations in the world". This, he said, must be checked to ensure the success of the sport.

Mr Kyei lamented that the once-respected Ghana in the realm of football continued to wear what he discribed as the "cloth of losses and defeats with childhood ease". He therefore, called on the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to be on its feet to check the rot in the entire system adding, "it is high time we made a mark in international circles".

He charged the national team, the Black Stars, to strive hard to ensure their inclusion in the 2006 World Cup slated for Germany, which he believed could mark the about turn in the fortunes of the nation's soccer.