Rehabilitate Konongo Stadium - Owerriman boss

The founder of Konongo-based Owerriman Football Club, Nana Batafo Acheampong Nti, has appealed to the Sports Ministry to rehabilitate the Konongo Stadium to motivate the youth in the municipality to continue nurturing and developing their potential in football.

He said the stadium, which he single-handedly constructed almost two decades ago, has now deteriorated, making it impossible for the well-endowed youth to nurture and develop their football potential.

He said in line with government’s policy to build a stadium in all districts in Ghana to help unearth, nurture and develop talents in sports, the government should rehabilitate the Konongo Stadium to become a national asset.

“Konongo is not only fast expanding but is also blessed with youthful  football talents, but their talents are going waste because of lack of training grounds,” Nana Nti, who is also the chief of Konongo, told the Daily Graphic in an interview.

He mentioned Sulley Ali Muntari and Rabiu Mohammed as the current generation of footballers bred in Konongo. He said former footballers such as Kwame Essumin, Akwasi Amofa, Kalala also nurtured and developed their skills in Konongo.

He said when the stadium was constructed, it hosted a number of Premier clubs such as Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Heats of Oak during their league matches.

He said it also hosted the national U-20 and the Black Queens as part of their preparations towards World Cup tournaments during the days of the late Coach Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie, an indication that the stadium had served the nation in diverse ways.