Ashanti Region favourites to win inter-co festival
Defending champions, Ashanti Region, are set to defend their title at the National Schools and Colleges Sports Festival, which takes place in Kumasi from tomorrow to September 15.
Over the past weeks, the Black Stars-Chipolopolo clash appeared to have drowned all other sporting activities in the country but for the next 10 days, more than 2000 students from the 10 regions will participate in the Sports Festival at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Officials said all is set for the festival, the biggest on the sporting calendar in the educational sector, which has been an avenue for unearthing talents in athletics and other disciplines for the nation.
Disciplines to be competed for include athletics, table tennis, basketball, hockey, cross-country race and football for both male and female.
Participating regions are expected to arrive in Kumasi today, and on Monday the Minister of Education will perform the official opening ceremony.
Last Thursday, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Yaw Adusei, visited the Ashanti Region contingent at their training camp at the Anglican Senior High School in Kumasi.
He advised the contingent to go out and make the region proud again by winning the competition for the fourth time.
Ashanti won it in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
Mr Adusei said representing the region was an honour and added that it should not just be one hosting but winning the tournament at all cost.
Mr Adusei commended the trainers; for their hard work in their preparing the team and expressed the hope that it would translate into victory in all the disciplines.
"I am here to encourage you. Make us proud. Don't see this as your limit. Aim high and you can go places," he said.
Mr Adusei stated that the Government had placed emphasis on the development of all sectors of the sports industry.
"Sports have made people great. You can become the next world star if you continue to work hard," he told the contingent.
The minister, on behalf of the Regional Coordinating Council, presented assorted soft drinks to the contingent.
By Kwame Asare Boadu/Daily Graphic/Ghana