Samsung–Chelsea ‘Dream The Blues’ Participant Shares Memorable Experience In Ghana

ISHMEAL MENSAH

Ghana's representative to London for the Samsung-Chelsea 'Dream the Blues' camp, and twelve-year-old Ishmael Mensah, has told the media how elated he was at the Blues Camp in London when he met Chelsea players and the team's managers.

Speaking at a post-camp interactive press conference in Accra on Friday, Ishmael Mensah, together with Mr. Gideon Anim Okyere, known in sports broadcast as Gatuso Gatuso, and Samsung Ghana's Marketing manager, Mr. Richard Nunekpeku, who were all at the London for the lifetime event, expressed their delight about how interesting and successful the 'Dream the Blues' function went on.

According to Ishmael, he had the opportunity to train with The Blues on the same training ground, and therefore managed to learn more football skills.

'I learnt how to dribble a ball more skilfully and faster than I knew before, and with this, I scored three goals,' Ishmael said.

He gave thanks and reverence to the Almighty God, whom according to him, made all things possible for him because he had never dreamt of traveling out of Ghana, let alone to Stamford to meet his football team, Chelsea.

Ishmael underscored the need for him to work harder and be respectful in pursuance of his dream of becoming a professional footballer, and called on his young colleagues to do same.

Sharing his experiences too, Gatuso, a journalist with the Multimedia Group, said he was grateful to Samsung for the wonderful opportunity given to him, because he has never thought of it.

He said: 'Going all the way to Stamford to watch Chelsea players train and be with them has never been part of my dream; I didn't even pray about it on 31st December night. I am grateful to Samsung for the opportunity'.

According to him, the trip also offered him the chance to go touring some areas in London, including the London High, where he stood and was able to see the whole of London.

Gatuso said he observed something about the London media which to him, was very comfortable and wish the same could be done here in Ghana.

The observation, he said, was that during a press conference, a journalist is not allowed directly to ask the player a question. Instead, the journalist writes the question he wants to ask on a paper, and hand it over to the Media Relations Officer, who then asks the question on behalf of the journalist.

The Samsung Ghana Marketing manager also shared his experience. He said that the Chelsea team has a good off-the pitch relations with people much more than it was presumed.

He stated for example, that the team had a party one night after they had played Everton. And on their way to the party ground in their luxurious cars, they got down at every point where there were fans who wanted to take photographs with them.

This friendliness of the team, he said, was something to really appreciate and talk of.

Mr. Nunekpeku disclosed that the campaign involving Ishmael Mensah should have ended after he had returned from the camp. But the boys' sterling performance on the field has earned him some marks, and so he has been granted the chance to come over to Chelsea for trail - a step, that would influence his opportunity of playing for the team in the near future.

He therefore declared the readiness of his outfit to support Ishmael's parents in whatever way they can to take the boy to London for the said trial.

Touching on the prospect of the 'Dream the Blues' campaign, Mr. Nunekpenu said Samsung will be doing a review of the campaign and also try to make it more involving come next season.

Asked how much cost was involved in the whole campaign, the Samsung Marketing manager said, the cost could sum up to 1 million dollar; which includes transportation, accommodation, food, taking the Chelsea coaches round the selected countries to recruit the winners among other expenses.

He noted that selecting of winners by the coaches was transparent and not manipulated because no one knew them and therefore they could not have had any personal reason to select the winner, adding that the winners were selected based on their football skills and attitude.

He announced that on their return to Ghana, the Chelsea team gave them an authentic Chelsea jersey signed by four team players and a Chelsea-branded football signed by all the players.

These items, he said, would be awarded to two Chelsea fans on facebook, who will be able to answer some questions correctly. He asked that the fans to look up to the questions on the Samsung facebook page by Tuesday.

ISHMEAL MENSAH