Sulley Muntari is no stranger when it comes to dramatic interventions and last minute goals but you could have excused the Inter Milan player and his fellow Black Stars team mates if they had complained of tiredness to simply go home and relax. That should have been the story following what was a fiercely competitive and long European season mixed with the current African/World Cup qualifying matches.
But rest does not seem to be on the menu for most of the Black Stars players and Saturday 27th June 2009
typified this truth. After early starts to honour various invitations in Accra, Muntari saved the day as he managed to crown a marathon agenda by driving from Dansoman to Tema where he presented a giant trophy to the winners of Street Soccer Africa at Tema Community One, Oninku park.
The locals had heard that the Black Stars midfielder would grace the occassion but having waited from 10 am to 4pm with no sign of their hero,the crowds started to lose hope. Muntari had several charitable engagements through out the day including supporting his captain Stephen Appiah in Dansoman at the StepApp Fun Day.
So just as the games in Tema were about to reach the final stages along came the Inter Milan star at the famous Oninku ground and right on time to witness what he called “De Ja Vue. ” Indeed a wide eyed and visibly excited Muntari announced “This is how i started all those years ago and i was encouraged so there is no way i will abandon these kids because i can see myself in them” The player was not disappointed as the final game was one of the best of the weekend featuring players, some as young as 9 years old, who raised their game in front of their hero.
Street Soccer Africa has been touring socially challenged communities since October 2008 and on it’s final leg of 16 communities, the finest colts teams in Tema community one came to show their skills. The teams included three stars – Top Bankers, Addidas FC, and Zaps FC. The two finalists beat all before them and played an exciting game with San Sam FC eventually beating Zenith FC 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Muntari made it a point to shake the hands of all the participating players and promised to “look out” for them in future.
The cheers hit fever pitch when Muntari selected 11 year old Allison Paynin as the MVP in the final match and then draped him in an Inter Milan jersey. Each team took home a brand new Nike football donated by Muntari, tubes Milo Fuse drinks with the winning side grabbing the best package and a promise to “surprise” them by the Black Stars player. “Anytime I am back home I will look out for these boys because I see them as my little brothers”
The MP for Tema East Hon Ashong Narh sent a message promising to support and promote Street Soccer in the constituency. The community soccer tour is also supported by Voltic the GFA, Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Council. The champion of champions will be played amongst 16 communities in the Greater Accra region in August. The eventual winners will take on Lagos State Street Soccer champions.
Street Soccer Africa is a Ghanaian based project by OXIGEN and is set to be replicated in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Gambia and Togo with the support of Emmanuel Adebayor who is a Street Soccer Africa Ambassador. Anthony Baffoe, Prince Tagoe, Yaw Preko and John Painstil are other supporters of Street Soccer Africa as well as Nestle Ghana Ltd, Voltic and National Service Secretariat.