The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has expressed dissatisfaction with the national amputee soccer team, the Black Challenge, for visiting some personalities before paying a courtesy call on the Ministry after the African triumph last month.
Mustapha Ussif stressed, “That cannot be tolerated”.
The Black Challenge came from a goal down to beat Morocco 2-1 in the final of the 2024 Amputee Africa Cup of Nations (AAFCON) in Egypt.
The team has since paid courtesy calls on some personalities including former president John Dramani Mahama, who donated $10,000 to the team.
On Friday, when the team went to the Sports Ministry to present the trophy to the sector minister, he expressed disgust at the visits by the Black Challenge.
“Unlike last year when you came and came here directly, this year you started going from one place to another place to another place without even rendering records to government who sponsored you and that cannot be tolerated,” the Member of Parliament for Yagaba Kubori Constituency said.
“I have to put it to you and not only you but any national team, if it is your personal [or] private club, that is fine.
“That is your club. As national team, once you come you should know that you’re representing the state.”
The Minister has, as a result, charged the President of the National Paralympic Committee to account for every penny received in donations to the team.
“We will communicate after you have presented all the statements [and] all that you have received to my office.”
source: OnuaOnline
