In quest to maximise efforts deployed for the growth and development of grassroots football at the juvenile level, the Kuntu Blankson led Shama District Football Association has initiated a groundbreaking project to acquire a total of 400 FIFA standard footballs for all juvenile football teams in the Shama District.
The initiated, a brain child of the Shama District FA Chairman Kuntu Blankson, aims at curbing lack of footballs for the young footballers in the Shama District, and to ensure that the financial burden regarding the purchase of quality football for the players is taken of the shoulders of the various team owners, who have no sponsorships for these needs.
The “Operation 400 footballs” project was launched at a meeting between the FA Chairman and the various juvenile clubs in the District where the initiative by the Chairman was unanimously endorsed by the stakeholders. To ensure transparency and accountability, the Association has acquired a customised Mobile Money number from giant telecommunications company MTN, which has been registered in the name of the Shama District FA for the fund mobilization for the project.
The account holds the name “Shama District Football Association”, and this is the account name that will display anytime a contributor sends money into the account. The account number is 0596 323 764. The FA Chairman Kuntu Blankson cautioned all donors not to send money into any account that bears a name of an individual, but should note that upon a transaction, the name to show up will be Shama District Football Association.
Speaking exclusively to ghanasportspage.com, Kuntu Blankson announced the account details while appealing to all people who are reached by this initiative to kindly help by donating into the account to help the “Operation 400 Footballs” project to be a success.
“If you look at our juvenile football teams they suffer a lot in terms footballs for training and for matches”, Kuntu told ghanasportspage.com. “Because of that the Shama District Football Association met last Saturday with all the teams to discuss how to develop football in the Shama District. As a result, w have launched operation 400 footballs which we have to acquired and share among the juvenile teams in the Shama District so they will also get balls for their training and for matches”, he confirmed.
After confirming the project, the seasoned sports journalist and football administrator announced the details of the account for the project, and appealed to all persons for help.
“We went to discuss with MTN and have now secured a mobile number which has been registered for the Shama District Football Association through which all companies in the district, individuals can all contribute through which will be received by the District Fooball Association. Our mobile money number is 0596 323 764, every money you will send through it the name that will be seen is Shama District Football Association, if it’s not that name and you see any name of an individual then it means that’s not the right number you are sending to”, he cautioned.
He explained the objective of the project and appealed to all corporate bodies and individuals to contribute to support the project so as to help develop the youth game in the district.
“Now the teams are really suffering, they don’t even have the footballs for the players. This is why we are appealing to the District Assembly, the corporate institutions and individuals in the Shama District to all help us to acquire these 400 footballs so we can share for all the teams in the district to help their course”, he appealed.
He extended the appeal to all individuals outside the district and the Western region such as in Kumasi, Accra and other players to also assist the project and they will highly be appreciated.
“Even if you are in Kumasi, Accra, Takoradi, Nzema, Elubo, everywhere and you hear of us and you can contribute to help us to assist the teams in the district we will really appreciate you”, he appealed.
After the Ghana Football Association (GFA) signed a three-year footballs sponsorship/partnership deal with Italian kit and footballs manufacturers Macron, Kuntu Blankson appealed to the GFA and the Executive Council of the FA to allocate half of the balls to acquire from the deal to juvenile football teams. While awaiting a positive response from the FA on his appeal, the innovative Unicorn Football Club President has taken the initiative to launch the “Operation 400 footballs” project to support the juvenile football teams in the Shama District with footballs as a mediating measure by the FA of which he is the Chairman.
