Didi Dramani believes Black Stars will make Africa proud
Black Stars’ assistant coach, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, says Ghana sees Thursday’s FIFA World Cup opener against Portugal as an African project and have readily accepted the challenge to excel and many everybody happy.
According to him, the surprise visit by the CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, at the team’s camp in Doha on Wednesday signified one Africa at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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He (Motsepe) spent a very respectable time with us with very inspiring and dedicated speeches,” Coach Dramani told Graphic Sports Online on Thursday morning.
“Yea, this is the biggest stage or occasion everyone associated with football will ever dream of and it’s the best privilege to serve football to a worldwide audience.
“Africa is what we represent’ at the world stage,” he explained.
He disclosed further that the Black Stars were fully prepared to challenge Portugal in their opening Group H encounter with a cautious optimism.
“Everything is good and we are very calm and positive, knowing very well that it’s a big game.
“But we have the quality to compete at this stage and also with all the greatest respect of the quality of our opponents,” he stated.
“We are building a team with respect and cohesion comprehensively, and I think without any reservations of what happens in today's game, we will still be formidable.”
"The team energy and effort in training and around the camp have been massive and this is a strong tool that has been instrumental and institutional in the culture we are building with the model," Coach Dramani noted.
He hailed the Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, and some top football officials in Doha for their massive support for the team so far in Doha.
“Prominent men such as Alhaji Karim Gruzah, Moses Armah (Mospacka), Dr Randy Abbey, Fred Pappoe, GFA President, Kurt Okraku, and the Sports Minister have been fully in support of the team.
"Sulley Ali Muntari was also with us at dinner yesterday (Wednesday) and gave a very emotional and awareness speech to the team to go and make their tomorrow with the ‘privilege of today’ for future acknowledgment," he added.
As part of efforts to motivate the Black Stars ahead of today’s game, President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, visited the team in Doha on Thursday morning.
He is expected to be the number one supporter at the stadium during the big game.