National Amputee Football Team Appeals To President Akufo-Addo

Richard Arthur Opentil, captain of the Ghana National Amputee football team, the Black Challenge, has called on the President Nana Akufo-Addo to provide the team with air tickets, to enable them participate in 2018 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.

According to Opentil, who is one of the first Ghanaian professional amputee footballers, the president must take up the challenge to support them, as they are poised to win Ghana’s first Amputee football major title, when the competition takes center stage from October 24 to November 5, in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“I know what I am talking about. I challenge His Excellency President Akufo-Addo to make tickets available to the team and count on us to bring home the trophy,” the Turkish based player said.

He added: "having gained experience in Turkey, the most active and competitive league in the world, myself and some professional colleagues, with some of the local league players, have what it takes to bring the cup home”.

The World Clubs Champions winner and multiple Turkish Amputee Football Super League gold medalist further stated: “What we need is just about what three Black Stars players got for participating in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, so Ghana shouldn’t miss this opportunity”.

“We have gained the experience; I mean thirteen of us in Turkey and the numerous local players in the Ghana League are capable beating any team in the world,” Opentil stated.

Ghana is drawn in Group B with Argentina, Italy and France at the World Amputee Football Federation (WAFF) World Cup, scheduled to take place from October 24 to November 5, in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Meanwhile, the thirteen (13) professional players who are all based in Turkey have started arriving in the country to join their local counterparts for a non-residential training session that would herald a residential camping prior to the tournament.