The Ghana U-20 national male team, the Black Satellites are set to reclaim their full rewards from the state for winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the country back in 2009.
The Black Satellites, led by then coach Sellas Tetteh, beat their South American counterparts Brazil in the final at the FIFA U-20 World Cup tournament staged in Egypt, to become the first African side to win the trophy.
The team, captained by Andre Ayew, made history by conquering the world to place Ghana on the lips of the world.
Following the unprecedented triumph, the then sitting President of the Republic, His Excellency Prof. John Evans Atta Mills [in transition], as part of rewarding the gallant team, directed, that a 15-year investment of GHC10,000 be made for each person of the entire playing body, including the technical team to maximize wealth for them upon maturity of the policy.
The said investment was wade by the state on behalf of the team at the SAS Investment Management, a Fund Management company.
GSP1 Media, Ghana’s leading sports news network, has been following up on the status of the investment, given that the tournament ended on the 16th of October 2009, with the 15-year investment set to be due.
In an exclusive interview with Sir Martin on GSP1 Media, Daniel Ankomah, Head of Asset Management of SAS Investment Management, who functions as Chief Investment Officer, confirmed the existence of the investment made for the 2009 FIFA U20 World Cup winners, the Black Satellites, giving details of the policy and when it is set to fully mature.
“Yes, that’s true. The President (Prof. Evans Atta Mills) indicated that it would be good for these youngsters at the time to put their money in an investment that would do pretty well for them”, Ankomah confirmed.
“So yes, it was a 15-year investment so based on the date that it was officially handed over to us to manage, it will become due in January [2025].
We are in November [2024] so just about two months down, it would have fully matured and then it would be available to be paid to all those on whose behalf this investments were made for all the players”, he expatiated to ghanasportspage.com
One may be want to know how much each person is due to have when the maturity date is finally due, but when asked, Daniel Ankomah cited confidentiality obligations restricting disclosure to the general public, as the investments details are said to be personal to the individual beneficiaries.
“I’m not sure it can be disclosed, at the end of the day it’s still people’s personal investment, but I can assure you that it’s done fantastically well over the period, and I’m sure the players would be happy given that GHC10,000 from that time till today, it’s grown very well”, he underscored.
Earlier, reports suggested, that the policy holding individuals, (that is the players and members of the technical team) have been held off from knowing the status of the investment, raising doubts over the plausibility of its existence.
“Indeed some of them (the players) have come, over the years they do come to check on the investment, even just about two weeks ago some of the players were in our offices trying to find out about the status of it. So largely they are aware that in January it will mature”, he stressed.
“Even the coach at the time Sellas Tetteh, he’s been to our office a number of times, it’s not something that is shrouded in secrecy, so we’ve had deliberations with them over the years so they are aware”, he added.
The Chief Investment Officer of SAS Investment Management, Daniel Ankomah further disclosed an additional insurance policy done for the participating team by the State, which is running concurrently with the investment policy, both of which are due to mature by January, 2025.
He is unable to give the exact date in January when the policies would mature, but clarified that the maturity date would not exceed January 31, 2025. However, Daniel Ankomah was quick to indicate, that such reports may not reflect the situation on the ground.
“There was also an insurance policy attached where if any player had any injury of a sort, there was certain insurance that could take care of them, that has also been running over the years which will also end alongside the investment in January. So it’s been fine and I’m sure that they will be glad to have it back”.
“I may not be able to speak to the exact date but I do know that it’s in January [2025] and of course the last day in January is 31st January so it can’t go beyond that. Before the month closes everybody would be fine”, he stated.
Ghana become world champions in Egypt 2009 after beating Brazil 4-3 on penalties after extra time, after drawing blank in regular time. Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu converted the last kick, sending goalkeeper Rafael Pires Monteiro the wrong way to put the icing on the cake.
Below is the Ghana Black Satellites Team that won the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2009
Goalkeepers: Daniel Adjei, Robert Dabuo, Joseph Addo
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom, Jonathan Mensah, Daniel Addo, David Addy, Ghandi Kassenu, Daniel Opare, Philip Boampong, John Benson, Bright Addae
Midfielders: Gladson Awako, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Agyemang Opoku, Andre Ayew ©, Mohammed Rabiu
Forwards: Dominic Adiyiah, Ransford Osei, Latif Salifu, Abeiku Quansah
Technical Team
Sellas Tetteh – Head Coach
Listen to the full interview below:
