MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS, DR.MUSTAPHA AHMED LAUNCHES STEPHEN APPIAH TESTIMONIAL MATCH
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Dr Mustapha Ahmed yesterday, launched the Stephen Appiah Testimonial Match at a colourful ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) in Accra.
The programme was organized by Primeval Media Ghana Limited, an Event Company, to honour the football Legend and Icon Stephen Appiah who is drawing the curtains on an illustrious football career spanning two decades with a Special Dinner and Testimonial Match.
In an address to launch the programme Dr. Mustapha Ahmed who was the Guest Speaker noted that Appiah’s exploits as a footballer from club level to the national team has been inspirational to footballers as well as the entire youth.
The Minister said most of our heroes and heroines are hardly recognized after serving the nation and therefore praised the organizers for their laudable initiative to honour the former Black stars captain.
He praised Appiah’s contribution to the development of football in Ghana and made reference to his inspirational role in Ghana’s first qualification to the FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2006 which is still fresh in the minds of Ghanaians.
Recounting the achievement of Appiah who is affectionately referred to as ‘Capitano’ by football fans the Minister noted that “his exploits are also not limited to just the pitch but we are all aware of his philanthropic contributions to his community at Chorkor and other places”.
The special dinner is slated for June26 at the State Banquet Hall followed on June27, 2015, by the Testimonial Match at the Accra Sports Stadium. The Testimonial Match is expected to be graced by former players of Juventus, Fernabache and other high profile international football icons.
Present at the launch were Nana Brew-Butler, former GFA Chairman and chairman for the occasion, Mr.Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association, other high profile football administrators, retired footballers and members of the National Women Supporters Union.