A coalition of sports enthusiasts in the Upper West Region has eulogized the Speaker of Parliament, the Right Honorable Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin for his positive contributions to the development of sports in the region.
The Convener of the group, Ismail Saani, in a press statement enumerated some of the stunning impact the speaker has made on sports in that part of the country.
They stated among others that the speaker provided shelter for the thousands of fans that are set to grace the 2022/23 National Division One League, MTN FA Cup Matches, Regional Division Two League matches and Juvenile Matches at the Wa Sports Stadium, and that he also screened fans from the scorching sun and rescued them from the utter humiliation and mockery from visiting teams by renovating the Upper West Regional Sports stadium.
The statement further indicated that when the speaker was called upon to help renovate a dilapidated stadium, he responded with alacrity and that the initial request to him was to renovate the Ghana at 50 VIP Stand but the speaker extended the work to the Eastern section of the pitch.
And even added a security zone, which is now a mandatory requirement for Premier and Division One League Match Centers, he additionally replaced the old and faulty water closets and wash basins in the washroom, and improved the interior decor of the stands, among other priceless interventions.
The coalition also stated that the iconic bond between Real Crusaders Ladies Football Club and the Rt. Hon. Speaker is a living testimony as he recently donated footballs and other equipment, which has changed the entire outlook of the Real Crusaders Ladies Football Club from an amateur division one club into a professionally-run football club.
According to the statement, the stunning outfit was out-doored at the just ended National Middle League staged at Techiman for the Northern Zone.
“His love for sports and the desire to see our sisters pursue something meaningful and eschew promiscuous lives motivated the Speaker to support female sports. He has reshaped the entire fortunes of the club,” the statement noted.
The coalition then concluded with a crucial appeal to the Speaker of Parliament, in an Oliver Twist fashion, stating that since the Anas Aremeyaw Anas expose in 2018, the Upper West Region has been without a Premier League Club, which situation is affecting the sport, local tourism and the region’s economy, and that the renovated Wa Sports Stadium needs to be put to optimum use.
They affirms that the region is blessed with two Division One Clubs in Suntaa SC and Maana FC, which boast of some of the best and exciting talents capable of playing in the Premier League, with the needed logistic and financial support.
They therefore called on the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Members of Parliament in the region to invest in these clubs so as to bring premier league football to the Upper West Region as this will help develop football talents, improve livelihoods and enhance holistic sports development in the region.
By Ghananewsonline.com.gh