Sports Minister Congratulates Ghana’s Team For 2016 Olympic Games And Black Starlets

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, on behalf of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama and Government of Ghana has sent congratulatory messages to Team Ghana for representing the country, at the just ended 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

The Hon Minister thanked Team Ghana for making the qualification to the games and said even though they were not able to perform to the expectations of all Ghanaians, they have improved their world ranking.

Hon.Nii Lantey Vanderpuye urged the athletes to put into practice lessons learnt from the just ended competition and to also start training in earnest towards the 2020 Olympic Games. According to the Hon. Minister, considering the ages of the athletes, they have a brighter future ahead of them and all they needed now, is how to keep their focus and become better athletes in future.

In a press release signed by Otor Plahar, PRO at the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the Minister said “Moments like this should fill our hearts with joy and hope for our athletes to make them feel proud that they represented a grateful nation. Though the national aspiration may not have been met, we welcome them back home with pride”.

The Hon. Minister thanked the trainers and management team for their hard work and urged them not to relent in their efforts to ensure that the athletes are better groomed for the next Olympic Games.

In another letter, the Minister of Youth and Sports, on behalf of His Excellency, President and the people of Ghana sent a congratulatory message to the national under- 17(U-17) men’s team, the Black Starlets for qualifying to the next stage of the African Youth Championship.

The Black Starlets played their Burkinabe counterparts in the second leg of the Africa Youth Championship in Burkina Faso, winning on points aggregate. The Hon. Minister said notwithstanding the intimidation and difficulties the team went through, they have done the nation proud by qualifying to the next stage of the competition.

Hon.Nii Lantey Vanderpuye told the team that by their performance, they have put smiles on the faces of many of their supporters and that the nation expects nothing less than the best from them in their games ahead. He urged them not be complacent but rather stay focused and also take their training seriously.

“With dedication, discipline and team work, there is nothing that you cannot achieve. I have no doubt in my mind that this time around, you are going to bring home the laurel. My expectations are that you stay very much focused”, the Hon. Minister said.

He thanked the coach, the technical and management team of the Black Starlets for their effort and hard work that has led the team into battle and came out victorious.

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