Special Olympics: Ghana face Algeria today

The national intellectually disabled athletes currently participating in a five-a-side football tournament of the Pan African Special Olympics Games in Cairo, Egypt, will engage Algeria today.

The Ghanaian team arrived in Cairo last Wednesday and have been making waves with two wins out of the three games played so far.

Constant Hevi

After settling for a goalless draw against Rwanda in their first match last Saturday, the team marshalled forces to overpower Seychelles Island with a lone goal scored by Constant Hevi in their second match.

The third match against Kenya, described as a formidable team, saw the Ghanaians beat the more athletic East Africans by a lone goal which was also scored by Hev.

As the team engage Algeria, who defeated Kenya 3-2 last Sunday, all eyes will be on Hevi and skipper Hamza Mohammed who has proved to be the pillar behind the success story of the team.

Board member

A Board member of Special Olympics Ghana, Nana Wereko Ampim-Opoku, told the Daily Graphic that the team was in high spirits to add Algeria to their victims in today’s match.

“Morale in camp is very high, especially after their victory over Kenya yesterday. The players are very enthusiastic because our win today against Kenya has motivated them to push ahead to reach the medal zone.

“There is no injury in camp and all the players are determined to do their best to fly the flag of Ghana very high. The technical team has also mapped out a strategy that will maintain the winning spree of Team Ghana,” Nana Opoku assured.

Besides five-a-side football Ghana is also participating in athletics which is yet to commence.

Athletes who are likely to make Ghana proud are Hannah Dantakor (Twin City Special School, Takoradi), Lawrencia Ababio (Garden City Special School, Kumasi), Princess
Ayin (Dzorwulu Special School, Accra) and Victoria Obeng (Aboom Methodist, Cape Coast).

The others are Benjamin Akosah (Garden City Special School), Alfred Bossumpim (Twin City Special School), Elijah Ayin (Dzorwulu Special School) and Joseph Tetteh Ametorwosi (Gbi Kledjo Special School).