Ho: Asogli chiefs support youth-led programmes

Chiefs and Queens of the Asogli State have pledged their unflinching support for organizers and stakeholders in sports who organize soccer competitions in honour of traditional rulers and their annual festivals.

According to them, such tournaments not only show reverence to chiefs but also honour the stools they occupy.

The traditional leaders noted that every traditional area holds its stool in high esteem, as it embodies the livelihood of the entire area. Therefore, organizing games, particularly as part of activities to commemorate annual festivals, is a welcome initiative that deserves the support of chiefs and queens.

The pledge was made at a reception organized by the chiefs and elders of the Hliha Division of the Asogli State for players of the Division who won the just-ended 10-Communities Soccer Tournament. The tournament was organized and sponsored by an Accra-based sports-oriented organization, the Bright Senyo Dey Foundation.

Fiator of the Ho Hliha Division, Francis Kle, stressed that as chiefs, they will continue to support youth-centred activities tailored towards the welfare and growth of the Asogli Traditional Area, with the ultimate aim of bringing hope to all in their traditional communities.

He admonished the youth not to shy away from youth-centred activities but to avail themselves of programmes intentionally organized to shape them into useful citizens in society.

Fiator Kle said winning the ultimate trophy was not only an honour to the Hliha Division of the Asogli State but also showed how disciplined and responsible the youth have been, as they gave their best despite the challenges they face in their everyday lives.

The Hliha Soccer Team Manager, Mathew Kpordzro, who commended the players for achieving such a feat, noted that hard work, commitment, determination and discipline enabled them to achieve success.

He assured the chiefs and people of the Hliha Division that he and his team would win more laurels to honour them in all spheres of life as far as soccer is concerned.

The Team Manager expressed optimism that the five players selected by scouts during the tournament would succeed in the trials in Europe and secure placements in premier league teams, for their own benefit and that of the entire Hliha Division.

Mr. Kpordzro disclosed that plans are far advanced to embark on a tour of Europe with the team, under sponsorship from their international partners early next year. The tour is intended to motivate the winning team players who are yearning for such an opportunity.

The Team Manager praised the Chiefs and Queens of the Hliha Division for rallying behind the team to ensure success, despite the financial challenges affecting almost every sector of the economy.

The Assembly Member for the Hliha Electoral Area, Frank Yao Awuma, appealed to the sponsors of the soccer tournament, the Bright Senyo Dey Foundation, to establish a soccer academy in Hliha to unearth football talents in the Ho Municipality. He stressed that the municipality abounds in soccer talents that should not be allowed to go to waste.

He also suggested to the Foundation to organize Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 soccer competitions among the 10 communities to catch them young and groom them for the senior teams in the Asogli Traditional Area.

The winning team players, with the giant trophy, were driven through the principal streets of Ho amidst singing and dancing to borborbor music and a sound system, while displaying the trophy to onlookers.