Satellites In South Africa Without A Masseur?

The management of the national U-20 side, the Black Satellites, took a serious gamble last week when they embarked on trip to South Africa without a masseur and a goalkeeper’s trainer much to the dismay of many keen lovers of the game..

Goalkeeper’s trainer, Eddie Ansah, and team masseur, Charles Botwe, became the casualities as the organizers of the eight-nation tournament insisted on a 25-member contigent.

The tournament which kicked off last Saturday attracted a strong array of top football nations including South Africa the hosts, Argentina and Nigeria who are in group A with Ghana while Japan and Brazil are in Group B.

Incidentally the two, who have been associated with the senior national team the Black Stars for a very long time lost and their places last month in a massive shake-up of the technical team.

A source close to the Satellites camp told the Graphic Sports the places of the two gentlemen were taken up by three members of the Satellites Management Committee chaired by Mr. George Afriyie, who is also the leader of the contingent.

According to the source, the two were politely told to give way since they just joined the technical team from the Black Stars and that the team could manage without Eddie Ansah in particular, since the team has a head coach Orlando Wellington and assistant C.K. Akonnor.

Meawhile, the Black Satellites after winning a five-goal thriller, 3-2, against West Africa rivals, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria lost 0-2 to South Africa and looking for a semi-final a group duel with Argentina. In the encounter with Nigeria, goals from Baba Abdulramani, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi , Benjamin Fardi ensured the win for the Satellites.