20-Year-Old Ghanaian Owusu Amando Forms Aston Villa's First Supporters Group In Africa

A 20-year-old Ghanaian Owusu Boakye Amando has formed Aston Villa's supporters group in his native country.

The group named 'Ghana Lions" is the latest supporters branch in the West African nation.

Ghana Lions is based in Ejisu-Juaben - a district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

They group, which was formed in 2010, meet to sing and dance before Villa's matches in the English Premier League.

The love story between Juaben and Aston Villa dates back to two generations ago when Owusu learnt about the Claret and Blue from his late grandfather.

“I have supported Villa for the past 15 years. When we were kids my Grandpa used to tell stories and history about the club to us.” Owusu told BirminghamLive.

"He used to talk about a certain player – ‘God, God, God’. So the kids with me asked him: ‘Grandpa who is that God you are talking about? Because we all know that there's only one God and he is in heaven’.

“He said: ‘There is a god in football and his name is Paul McGrath.’

Paul McGrath managed 323 appearances as a centre-back for Aston Villa between 1989 and 1986. In his seven-year spell, Aston Villa finished second twice in the league and won the League Cup (Carabao Cup) twice.

Ghana Lions are the only Aston Villa supporters’ group in Africa registered in the UK and have been endorsed by the Aston Villa Foundation. Owusu’s dream is that Aston Villa will start an academy in the West African country.

“Our vision is to see this Aston Villa team in Juaben grow to become an academy which will be sponsored by Kappa[who are Aston Villa’s kit sponsors].”

“The talents in the Ashanti Region are incredible and if we do get an academy here, we can produce great players for the Ghana national teams, Aston Villa and other clubs in Europe”, he added.

Source: GHANAsoccernet