CAF presents African Cup trophy to gov't

2/10/09

Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A TEAM from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Standard Bank (the parent company of Stanbic Bank) and the Chief Football Ambassador for Africa Nations Cup trophy, football maestro Abedi Pele, yesterday presented the trophy to Vice-President John Dramani Mahama at the Castle, Osu.
On receiving the trophy from Abedi Pele and the CAF Marketing Director, Mrs Sarah El Gazaar, Mr Mahama declared that Ghana was poised to win the trophy, judging by the current “devastating performance” of the Black Stars.
The presentation of the trophy marked the beginning of the seven-nation tour of the trophy sponsored by Standard Bank.
Mr Mahama said the last time Ghana won the African trophy was in 1982, and said the country was yearning for the opportunity to lift the trophy again.
He said with the current crop of players of the Black Stars the time was rife for Ghana to once again lift the trophy.
“I hope that we will bring it (the trophy) to Ghana”, he expressed his optimism.
Mr Mahama said President John Evans Atta Mills was supposed to receive the trophy but for his engagement outside the country.
He, therefore, thanked CAF, the Standard Bank and Abedi Pele on behalf of the President for presenting the coveted trophy to the presidency.
The Managing Director of Stanbic Bank, Mr Alhassan Andani, said Standard Bank had offered to support CAF in the organisation of African Cup up to 2016.
He said since Ghana was the first stop of the trophy, he prayed that trophy “stays in the country.”
Abedi Pele, who is for the second time ambassador of the trophy, said he was pleased to be given such an opportunity for the second time.
He thanked Standard Bank for the “huge burden” and expressed the hope that the tour and the organisation of the African cup would be successful.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Rashi Pelpuo, commended Standard Group for sponsoring the seven-nation tour of the trophy and asked the bank to partner Ghana to encourage the Black Stars players to win the African cup.