Saturday, October 16, 2010

Ghana amputee soccer team lacks funds to travel to World Championship in Argentina

From Ghana Soccer Net:

The Ghana National Amputee team needs a miracle to make their debut appearance in the World Championship in Argentina, which got underway on Oct. 14.

The Black Challenge failed travel to Buenos Aires for the championship on Thursday night due to inadequate funds.

This development raises concern about the government’s commitment to support sports persons with disability in the West African country.

The country risks a ban by the governing body if it fails to participate in the competition which got underway in the South American country on Thursday.

The vice-President of the Ghana Amputee team, Adjetey Sowah is enraged by the current plight of the team and says the government has demonstrated blatant disregarded for disabled people in the country.

“Issues of persons living with disability are not issues of politics. They’re issues of fundamental human right and it a shame we find ourselves in such an unfortunate situation,” Sowah said.

“Of course we’re not asking anything huge from the government and I’m afraid when we participate we lift the flag of Ghana high.

“When the 2010 World Cup took place, thousands of supporters were supported financially by government to go and watch. Are we saying they’re more important than us who are going to be real actors of the game? he fumed?

The team has only managed to raise 39,000 Ghana Cedis out of the over 80, 000 needed to make the trip for the tournament in Argentina from October 14 to 29.

The current situation may exacerbate the stigmatization against person living with disabilities.

Ghana is drawn in Group C alongside Turkey, El Salvador, Liberia and Algeria.

Ghana’s Group opener is on Saturday.