Guinness Gives Stars ¢100m

Guinness Ghana Limited has presented ¢100 million and a quantity of Malta Guinness drinks to the national team, Black Stars, to motivate the players and technical handlers to win Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Somalia in Accra.

Guinness made a further pledge of ¢100 million to the team if they win the return leg match in Kumasi next Wednesday.

A powerful delegation from Guinness, led by the Managing Director, Mr Devlin Hainsworth, visited the Stars at training after which Mr Hainsworth made the donation in the presence of Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, and GFA Chairman Ben Koufie.

The Guinness boss told the players that his visit was primarily to wish the team well and also pledge the company’s continued support for the team that started five years ago.

He added that in the face of the Stars’ recent failure to qualify for the 2004 Nations Cup, Guinness still believes that with full and continuous national support, the team can turn their fortunes around. “Sunday’s World Cup match is the big one. We want to see skills and compassion in the game. Ghanaians want to see you at the 2006 World Cup because it is the highest level of football and that is where you belong,” Hainsworth said.

Stars skipper, Stephen Appiah, who received the cheque, promised Guinness and the entire nation that the team will defeat the Somalis in the two-leg qualifier. Appiah and teammates were very thrilled upon hearing of a further cash incentive from their sponsor if they win in Kumasi.

Mr Koufie also thanked Guinness for its continued support even in the team’s darkest moments, which he said was indicative of the company’s confidence in the team. He thus urged the players not to let Guinness and the nation down.