National sides get busy

With the exit of the Black Stars in the on-going 2006 FIFA World cup in Germany, the spotlight is expected to return to the activities of the junior national teams ahead of a busy qualifying schedule later this year.

The teams have stuck to their programs for the year and are on the verge of wrapping up before the qualifying campaigns for major competitions open in August.

Handlers of the national under-17 team, the Black Starlets, will name a 23-man squad in mid-July from a pool of 180 players selected from all over the country.

The 180 selected players are currently camping at Winneba for a justify-your-inclusion exercise.

Meanwhile, series of trial matches have been lined up for the final 23-man squad next month to fine tune preparations for their first game in the African Under 17 qualifying series against Guinea on 17th September in Obuasi.

Head coach Bashiru Hayford and his assistants, Emmanuel Quarshie and Joseph Carr expect a smooth sailing programme.

The national under-20 team, the Black Satellites, continue with their selection process with two friendly matches with lower division sides in the Eastern Region.

The two matches will bring to an end the regional tour began by the technical team in March this year.

And they hope to return to their Prampram base to step up preparations for their qualifying campaign, which starts in August.