Goldfields Give Stars $116,000

Goldfields Ghana Limited has released $116,000 to the Black Stars for Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso in Kumasi.

The multi-national mining company will release a further $112,000 to the team before they embark on their next game against South Africa in Johannesburg on June 18.

The figures represent the company's fulfilment of its part of a three-year sponsorship contract formally signed with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in Accra yesterday and worth $1million a year.

But in a show of magnanimity, the company presented technical equipment worth $100,000 to the GFA for use by the Stars for the two immediate matches ahead. The amount does not form part of the original sponsorship package between Goldfields and the GFA for the Stars.

The equipment included two sets of jerseys, bibs, cones, rubber and hard studs boots, and track suits, all of Umbro brand.

For Sunday's game, the Stars will wear either the yellow or white colour of the two Umbro jerseys with inscriptions of names of the players at the back, according to acting GFA Chairman, Mr Kwasi Nyantakyi.

Mr Nyantakyi said the significance of the Umbro kit was evidenced in the pursuit of a kit sponsorship deal for the national team with the British company.

Such a possible agreement, he said, had reached an advanced stage and could materialise before the Stars concluded their last couple of games in the qualifiers.

Deputy Minister of Education and Sports, Mr O. B. Amoah, who was the guest of honour at the function, said the timing of yesterday's ceremony could not have been better as it would serve as a booster to the Stars as the nation sought to reach the World Cup for the first time.

"We can only hope that the marriage so formed by the GFA and Goldfields Ghana Limited will last forever, and produce the best from the Stars," Mr Amoah said.

Mr Toni Aubynn, Corporate Affairs Manager of Goldfields, said the fruition of the deal demonstrated that the company was awake to its social responsibilities.

Also present at the ceremony were representatives of Umbro.