American media outfit, Fox International have been commended for the quality media production and presentation of the 2017 West African Cup tournament which ended at the Cape Coast Stadium with the Black Stars of Ghana hosting and winning after a tantalizing performance.
Speaking to ace sports journalist Sammy Heywood Okine after the event, he praised the television production which was telecasted in over 70 countries as very qualitative and high quality standard, which should be learnt by those producing the local premier league.
The founder of Online Sports Journalists Union (OSJU) and World Star Media on Facebook who is also known as General One said the general organization of the tournament was of high class and praised the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Central Regional Sports Authority, the Central Regional Football Association, volunteers, the various universities and senior high school’s students who ensured that the venue was filled to capacity and the general public who made the football festival colorful.
He gave thumbs up to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) led by Mr. George Afriyie and the sub committees as well as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and West African Football Union (WAFU) who’s Presidents Ahmad Ahmad and Kwesi Nyantekyi and the sports ministers of Ghana and Nigeria who graced the extravaganza.
Also among the people he commended are media colleagues online, in print, on radio and TV whose positive vibes contributed to the success of the WAFU Cup which was last played four years ago.
Sammy Heywood Okine who is Ghana Country Director of African Sports Media Inc. noted that the WAFU Cup has exposed many fantastic players, and on the Ghana side he admitted not knowing players like Stephen Sarfo who won the Goal King, Isaac Twum who was voted the Best Player and Emmanuel Lomotey, the enterprising midfielder who moves to join a Spanish club.
He however admitted knowing the functions of the fearsome five from Accra Hearts of Oak namely; Winful Cobbina, Kwame Kizito, Thomas Abbey, Vincent Atinga and the sensational Patrick Razak.
He also knew of the exploits of Asante Kotoko defender and captain Amos Frimpong, but never knew about Elmina Sharks’ Felix Addo and Waja of WAFA club.
Liberty’s skipper defender Samuel Sarfo Maldini is a personal friend, so is coach Maxwell Konadu who has been hailed for inspiring the local stars with motivation and confidence to reach the top as far as football is concerned in the sun region.
Mr. Okine who is also former Sports Writers of Ghana (SWAG) Deputy General Secretary hinted that the players who represented Ghana should be encouraged further by featuring them in the team A in order to know the rhythm of the senior team and take over from the aging stars.
He specially thanked the supporters groups who have united under Allied Sports Supporters of Ghana and the sports media, not forgetting operators in the sports arena on social media.
The tournament also boasted tourism as some guests in the Central Region including pressmen visited the Kakum Forest, Elmina and Cape Coast Castles. They also saw the old secondary schools which are still leading eg Kwabotwe, Adisco, Augusco, National, Aggrey etc.
Finally, he gave special mention to Barry Lambert, Steve Vickers, Paul Dempsey and all the Ghanaian journalists notably, Bettey Yawson, Jojo Ephson, Desmond Decker, Frank Sarpong and Edna Quansah who supported Fox Sports production team to put up the super media package.
Story by Naa Amerley Commey