Accra, August 3, GNA - The Management of Gemini Life Insurance Company (GLICO) on Wednesday presented a one billion cedi insurance cover for 18 players and seven officials of Ghana's Under 17 team, the Black Starlets towards their participation for the World Under 17 Youth Tournament scheduled for Peru.

The individual lives of the players would also be insured for one year at the tune of 360 million cedis if they win the ultimate Cup. The Company also presented a cheque of 20 million cedis, assorted body building foods worth five million cedis and a set of Queens Polo T-shirts to the Starlets as incentives to encourage them at the Tournament.

Mr Achampong Kyei, the Managing Director of GLICO who made the presentation in Accra, said the donation was also to fulfil a promise the company made to the Black Starlets before their departure to Gambia at the qualifying stage.

He reminded the management and players of the Starlets of the exploits of their predecessors in similar competitions and said GLICO believes that 'you would set the stage by repeating our 10 year old record in South America by entering Peru and winning the World Cup." Mr Kyei said it was also in this connection that management of GLICO had decided to insure the team of 18-players and seven officials and also to offer the Starlets an amount of 20 million cedis if they qualify from the group stage to the quarterfinal stage.

He said from the quarterfinal stage to the grand finale, GLICO would pay 1.5 million cedis for any winning goal scored by the Starlets and on winning the Cup, the team would be hosted for a day and receive 30 millions cedis cash.

Mr. Kyei said GLICO would also give special awards worth 12 million cedis to the Goal King, best player and best defender. The Managing Director reminded the players that, "apart from the fact that Ghana needs the Cup to re-launch ourselves into the international soccer arena, we have a holy and respectable name to cast in the mould of an emerging young and strong democracy to maintain". He urged the Starlets to comport themselves no matter the challenges and temptations both on and off the field of play as they go all out for the Cup and to ensure that they are worthy ambassadors of Ghana to win the Cup in dignity.

Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Education and Sports thanked GLICO for its generosity and said he was hopeful that the items would provide the needed confidence in the players to put up their best.

He said the technical team led by the coach had done their best with the government also assisting financially but would need the support of corporate bodies and other private companies such as GLICO for lending their support.

Mr Osafo-Maafo said the Ministry would focus on the development of Sports by encouraging inter-college football academies so that sports men and women would be trained for national assignments.