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Soccer News of Thursday, 30 August 2007

Source: GNA

Ghana - most popular team in Korea

(From Caesar Abagali, GNA Special Correspondent in Gwangyang, South Korea. Courtesy Ministry of Education, Science and Sports)

Gwangyang (South Korea), Aug. 30, GNA - The euphoria right from commercial drivers to school children in Gwangyang, venue of the clash when Ghana's Black Starlets beat Brazil on Wednesday to book a place in the quarter finals is the frequently heard shouts of "Ghana, well done, Ghana take the cup" any time the local people come across any black person.

There was wild jubilation both inside and outside the stadium soon after the referee signalled for the end of proceedings by both Ghanaians and Korean fans who thronged there the lend their support. Most of the Korean fans jumped and hugged any black on sight at the stadium stands and extolling the Starlets soon after the game to indicate their unflinching support and love for the Ghanaian game. One could hear them murmuring, "This is good soccer. Mighty Brazil has fallen. Ghana is good and Ghana go for gold", to the admiration of all.

On the way to the Back Woon Hotel Complex, where the Starlets camped together with Nigeria, Colombia and Brazil, one could see Korean fans on the

Sides of the road waving at the bus carrying the players back to their hotel after the sweet victory.

At traffic lights, drivers kept on blowing their horns at the sight of a few blacks, mainly Nigerian and Ghanaian fans on their way from the stadium.

The Korean media personnel added a touch of solidarity with their colleagues when they embraced Ghanaian media personnel and wished them the best of luck in the remaining matches, to indicate their support and respect for Ghana soccer.

The city Gwangyang which means "The city of dream and hope" seemed to have propelled the Ghanaian lads for them to and dream of victory, which ensured they kicked out Brazil from the competition. The Starlets as usual went to the field earlier on and offered prayers to God while Brazil went there to take pictures and ran across the pitch on two occasions and it was no surprise that they lost the match even though Ghana played most of the game with ten men. With Brazil now out of the way, it is the hope that Coach Sellas Tetteh and his boys would complete the task by defeating Peru in Changwon on Saturday to progress to the final four position.