Sports Minister Advices Black Stars: "Put What Happened In South Africa Behind You"

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah has advised the Senior National Team (Black Stars) to put behind their inability to win the most prestigious cup on the African continent and be determined to qualify for the World Cup as government pledges its full support. Twenty players, including newly invited Emmanuel Frimpong turned up for the first training session in Accra on Tuesday ahead of the match in Kumasi on Sunday. Speaking to the players after their first training session on Tuesday evening, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah on behalf of President Mahama delivered a goodwill message to the players and expressed optimism that Ghana will emerge victors on Sunday against Sudan. �...The President sends his best wishes to you, we all know the task ahead of us this Sunday and even beyond. What I want to say is that you are the stars of Ghana. If you look at our national flag�the Black Star represent the heart, the soul, the spirit of the nation, so you are the heart, the soul and the spirit of the nation, so you carry the spirit of the nation� ��.I want you to know that government supports you fully, the people of this country support you fully, and we are all behind you fully. It is important that you put what happened in South Africa behind you,� the Minister advised. The Minister challenged the players to capitalize on the World Cup qualifier against Sudan to shame their critics and redeem their image. �The true test of a champion is the one who goes down and yet is able to arise and fight again. And you (the Black Stars) are true champions and I believe that irrespective of what happens that should spare you on so that you will prove our critics wrong. People talk, talk, talk, you are going to use this opportunity to prove everybody wrong�,� he said.