Ghana Black Sharks gearing up for Kenya beach clash

The Ghanaian National Beach Soccer team, Black Sharks, held its first training session on Wednesday afternoon at the Jomo Kenyatta beach in Mombasa ahead of Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2017) Beach Soccer Qualifier against Kenya’s Harambee Sand Stars.

The team arrived on the night of Tuesday, August 23 ending speculations that the team would fail to honor the match due to financial constraints. It is reported that the country’s Ministry of Sports intervened, donating towards the purchasing of tickets for the 21 man contingent.

The Ghanaian delegation that includes 15 players and 6 officials landed in Mombasa at 21:00 GMT and were received by the hosts: Football Kenya Federation (FKF) South Coast Branch Chairman Gabriel Mghendi, Branch Secretary Lilian Nandudu, Vice Secretary Abdulhalim ‘Bably’ Mohammed and FKF logistics officer Ronny Oyando.

The team will camp at a hotel in Nyali and will play their first match on Saturday at the Jomo Kenyatta (Pirates) Beach at 4:00pm.

The 15 man squad will be attempting to qualify for their second successive championship in a row, after making their debut in Seychelles in 2015.

The  squad includes goalkeepers Danniel Goka (Sunset Sports), Gideon Adjei (Tushie United), defenders Aziz Kofi(Sunset Sports), Innocent Kumensah (Havedzi Mighty Warriors), Reuben Semebia Larli (Tushie United), Harold Acquaye(Sea Lions), Hussein Mohammed (Tushie United), Strikers Michael Sema ((Sunset Sports), Alexander Adjei (Sea Lions), Alfred Torsu (Havedzi Mighty Warriors), Michael Adjei  Anum (Tushie United) and Richard Osah (Wuo Gdee).

Others in the delegation are the Head Coach and his assistant, the team doctor, the physiotherapist, team manager, protocol officer, one beach soccer referee, one journalist and an official of the Ghana Beach Soccer Association.

Conspicuously missing from the roaster is goalkeeper Frank Messah  who won the golden glove award in the Maiden Beach Soccer Unity Cup held in Accra On July 18, 2016.

The return leg will be played in Accra on September 17.