Ghana, a Social Conscience Through Football
Ghana, a Social Conscience Through Football.
During one of our earlier visits to Ghana both Abbey McDonald
and myself took in a few kids football matches, we saw great levels
of skill and the children playing seemed to be lost in the game
forgetting for a little while the abject poverty that they were
living in, by the smiles on their faces and the commitment shown
and the fun had.
If you can picture a dry dusty uneven pitch, two teams without
boots, socks, shin guards and a mix match of shorts and shirts, a
keeper stood in an old women's pink blouse that he has felt penned
a number 1 on the back, no gloves, footwear and protecting an old
rusty goal frame with an old tattered fishing net, it was then that
both Abbey and myself committed to getting those children some
decent football kit.
On our return to the UK, Abbey placed a plea for kit on the
North of Scotland Youth Football website and i am delighted to say
that over the course we have now sent over one hundred complete
football kits, over two hundred pairs of boots, goalkeepers gloves
and training equipment to Ghana distributing between clubs,
schools, orphanages and village teams.
During discussions with Ipswich Town Football Club on other
matters i mentioned to Simon Milton ( Academy Sponsorship
Manager and ex player having played well over 300 games for
ITFC and scoring 55 goals) the skill levels of the kids in Ghana,
the lack of coaching, facilities and equipment.
Simon was most interested in doing something to assist and
kindly got ITFC to donate all their old Academy team's kit and
training gear for the children of Ghana, we have adopted a club
between ETG Ghana Ltd and ITFC and last May held in Takoradi a
football coaching school for around 500 children between the ages
of under 12's to under 17's this was coached by Simon who had a
wonderful time with the kids and they were in awe of him and showed
total respect, each child was kept with a supply of fresh water and
given lunch and a take away meal in the evening of chicken and rice
and a can of mineral water, a meal like some of them had never had
before.
When asked what he had thought of his experiences in Ghana,
Simon said that he had never had a time like it before, he found
the kids most keen, polite and eager to learn and promised that he
would be back, well he was as good as his word, both Simon and
Goalkeeping coach Clayton Buckenham will be attending this year's
soccer school on behalf of Ipswich Town Football Club, to put the
young future " Black Stars" hopefuls through their paces during the
week of 11th - 18th May 2011.
Any child that has found to have proven ability will be invited
to the UK for trials at ITFC in the hope that they can follow the
path of a professional player, a great opportunity that may never
have arisen for them in the past, this is something that ETG Ghana
Ltd and the parent group company E Tech Group Ltd and proud to
support and be part of.
More kit has recently arrived in Ghana courtesy of Ipswich Town
FC, our adopted club in Ghana now have ITFC kits throughout every
age group, training wear, tracksuits and equipment for training and
footballs, much more than they could ever have dreamed of and a far
cry to what they had when we first arrived in Ghana, we can see the
pride they have in each other, we can feel the team spirit and the
togetherness and i am really proud to be part of this and look
forward to an even bigger and better coaching school this year if
that is possible, watch this space for a report on this year's
Simon Milton's ITFC Soccer School in Ghana.
A special mention also to David Moat of the Chelmsford Youth
Football League for the excellent kits they also donated to Ghana,
I can assure you they were most well received and were put to
excellent use.
Alan Gordon