Ex-footballers must keep fit

Former Black Stars Captain, Charles Kwabla (C.K.) Akonnor, has underscored the need for ex-footballers to participate in keep fit actitities in order to avoid lifestyle diseases.

The former VfL  Wolfsburg  player said this last Saturday when  he joined actress and radio presenter, Naa Ashorkor Mensah Doku and ex-Black Stars players, Stephen Appiah and Laryea Kingston, for the February edition of ‘Accra Works Out’ (Awo), a monthly keep fit event held at the Accra Sports Stadium, which attracts an average of 200 participants, including celebrities.

He said: "It's my first time at AWO unlike Laryea and Appiah who are veterans but it was very exciting. The three-hour aerobics session was also different from what I was used to during my playing days.

"For retired footballers like myself, it is important to keep fit but it is not always easy to train alone after retirement. If you are not careful you will put on weight and become a victim of lifestyle diseases.”

Akonnor, who is the Right to Dream Academy coach urged residents of Accra to join the monthly keep fit exercise because it is easier and fun to exercise in a group.

Ex-Juventus Star, Appiah, also noted that the rate at which young people were developing heart-related diseases was disturbing. He therefore  urged the youth to exercise regularly.