The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has described corporate bodies that beach soccer in Ghana as visionaries.

The Minister said these companies had no yardstick to measure the potential of the sand sport but have decided to invest in it’s future.

“It is easy to sponsor a sport like football because there are numerous reference points. But when it comes to an emerging sport like beach soccer, it means sponsors are looking to build and create a legacy rather than seek immediate media or commercial benefits”.

Mr Vanderpuye made the remarks when officials of the Ghana Beach Soccer Association paid a courtesy call on him to present the giant golden trophy for the maiden edition of the beach soccer Unity Cup.

The sport has made a lot of strides since the first official beach soccer league was launched in 2011. Ghana now boasts 25 registered beach soccer clubs (BSC) and more than 45 non-registered beach soccer playing teams around the country.

The Sports Minister singled out Cal Bank for their immense support and contribution towards the rapid growth of Beach soccer in Ghana. ” I would personally like to commend the Managing director of CAL Bank Mr Frank Adu for his personal push in bringing beach soccer to this level”. Rated as the fastest growing sport in the world; according to the FIFA, Ghanaians are yet to fully embrace the game.

The Minister also hailed the association for organizing the Unity Cup which he believes is a positive step in reaching the masses particularly the youth with the message of peace and unity in an election year.

The Unity Cup will bring together the very best of talents from the Western ,Volta, Central and Greater Accra regions to contest for the glittering golden trophy.

The Unity Cup is sponsored by Style Up Gel for men which is produced by the number one cosmetics company in Ghana, Ghandour Cosmetics.

This is the first time the Unity Cup is going to be held and its expected to attract unprecedented number of crowds to the Laboma beach soccer resort in La, a coastal enclave of Accra.

The competition kicks off on Saturday 16th July after a massive community and venue sanitation exercise.

Sponsors, officials, players and locals will be joined by the Sports Minister, Greater Accra Regional Minister and the Mayor of Accra on the eve of the competition.