Pre-Africa Cup of Nations preparations after finishing high with two impressive warm up victories, Ghana have been dominant.
Kwesi Nyantakyi, president of the Ghana Football Association has been with the team since they started their camping period on 11-day in Abu Dhabi is urging support for the Black Stars as they prepare to arrive in South Africa on Wednesday.
“I think from the two games that have been played, peoples expectation have been raised to a very high level and I think they need to support this team so that we can maintain the momentum,” the GFA President said on the eve of the team’s departure from Abu Dhabi.
“We need the prayers of all Ghanaians, we need the support and even with the media, they will need to encourage the boys, people should avoid saying or writing things that will dampen the spirit of the team, discourage players or lower their morale so that we can remain one united people behind this team for it to do what we all expect and that is winning the trophy.”
Kwesi Nyantakyi is impressed by the team’s preparations to believe that the Black Stars are ready to challenge for the trophy. On Sunday, Ghana’s title ambitions will be tested when they open their campaign in Group B against DR Congo.
“I am very, very happy with the preparations that the team has acquired here and I think it will go a long way to help in ensuring that we win the trophy,” he said.
“The results [friendly matches] alone do not tell a complete story of the readiness of the team. I think the performance of the team was very good. In the first game we saw how quick the boys were, we saw team play and we saw commitment from the players”.
“In the second game we saw resilience; we saw fighting spirit and also saw discipline and adherence to instructions from the coach. I think what the coaches have taught the players over the past 11 days have settled in very well and it looks like they are applying it.”
He has no doubt that they would do the country proud, Nyantakyi said.
“I saw unity of the highest order; I saw team spirit, discipline and commitment, dedication and patriotism. It appears to me that there is a general resolve that, this is our time to win this trophy and we must do everything to annex this trophy and that means putting all differences aside, working towards a common objective and sacrificing and trying to forgo certain pleasures of life in order to contribute towards this objective. Discipline is very paramount in everything that we do”.
“On the field of play, you see that discipline being extended there. Players are asked to play certain roles and you see them religiously adhering to those instructions. I think it’s wonderful. They bond very well. I think they are poised and we are very happy with that.”
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http://en.africatopsports.com/2013/01/04/afcon-2013-referees-to-be-presented-with-fifa-badges