<![CDATA[The second edition of Airtel’s colts’ football initiative, Airtel Rising Stars, ended at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra. The Airtel Rising Stars, an annual, multi-country grassroots soccer initiative that offers young boys and girls the opportunity to play, compete and showcase their talent to selectors in their respective countries kicked off last month with Zonal competitions culminating with the national finals in Accra.
The initiative which is closely run with the technical support of the Ghana Football Association saw more than 200 boys and girls playing for the attention of football scouts and coaches from the GFA. Marketing Director of Airtel Ghana, Oare Ojeikere reiterated that a team made up of the best players in the competition would be selected amongst both the male and female teams to represent Ghana at the Inter-Country tournament to be played in Nairobi, Kenya. Mr. Ojeikere added that “we at Airtel Ghana are thrilled to see the successful close-out of the second edition of the Airtel Rising Stars Colts’ Football competition. From where we stand we know that the 2012 ARS has been an improvement over the maiden edition we held last year, and 2013 can only be better”, he said.
Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwah who was at the stadium to watch the finals expressed the hope that the sense of unity and fair play demonstrated by the youngsters would extend to the rest of the country. “We all saw how these young ones have treated each other with respect. It is the same way that we should treat ourselves as Ghanaians especially in an election year like this”, he said. He also commended Airtel Ghana for the initiative which he said will go a long way in helping the country find and nurture talents for the national teams.
The Southern-select side beat the Northern-select side to take home the giant trophy, medals, souvenirs from Airtel Ghana (including Samsung phones) and a cash prize of GHC1,500. The Northern Select side also took home a trophy, medals, and souvenirs from Airtel Ghana including Samsung phones and a cash prize of GHC1000. Zone One champions, Brong-Ahafo placed third and took home a trophy, medals, Airtel souvenirs and GHC500 as their cash prize. Inter Royals, GHATEL Ladies from the Central Region and Liver Rose Football Club were first, second and third respectively in the girls tournament and took home similar prices as their boys counterparts.
Airtel Rising Stars was supported by Samsung, Multimedia Broadcasting Company and Happy FM with Sammy Kufuor and Nii Odartey Lamptey, both former Black Stars players serving as Airtel Rising Stars Ambassadors. Six of the best players made up of 4 boys and 2 girls will take part in a weeks’ soccer clinic to be hosted by Ghana next month.
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