President Mahama to participate in Vodafone Unity Match?
President John Dramani Mahama is likely to feature in the Vodafone Unity Match today at the Accra Sports Stadium but it is not certain as to whether he will play for Stephen Appiah's World XI side or the Black Stars.
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The Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, hinted earlier this month that the President was keen on featuring in the game which aims at promoting peace and national unity among Ghanaians.
“Before the President left for an assignment in Cote d’Ivoire, we met to talk about the Black Stars game against Mauritius and factored in the Vodafone Peace Match," Mr Vanderpuye said
“He was very happy with the initiative and told me he would play in the match even if for two minutes,” Mr Vanderpuye told the press when Stephen Appiah paid a courtesy call on him".
The Minister, however, did not indicate whether the President would play for the World XI side or the Black Stars.
The World XI team smarting from the 4-1 thrashing they suffered at the hands of Kumasi Asante Kotoko last Wednesday could do with some reinforcement, if they are to improve on their poor second-half display.
The likes of Stephen Appiah, Laryea Kingston, Richard Kingson, former Dutch international, Edgar Davids, Arsenal's Sol Campbell, Middlesbrough’s George Boateng, Camerounian Alexandre Song, Nigerian Yakubu Aiyegbeni, former Man United striker Dwight Yorke and former Liverpool striker, Emile Heskey have all stated in separate interviews that they are ready to pull off a shock by defeating Avram Grant's Black Stars.
However, the much younger Black Stars, fresh-from booking a qualification for AFCON 2017, are not going to be pushovers and will enter into the exhibition match as the overwhelming favourites.
Free-scoring Swansea player, Andre Ayew, is likely to be in the thick of affairs as skipper as he will hope to marshal his troops to avoid what could be a potentially embarrassing defeat against a team of veterans.
The Vodafone Unity Match is organised by Stephen Appiah and Primeval Media aimed at promoting peace in the country ahead of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in November.