Former Black Stars superstar Laryea Kingston returned to Teshie to inspire young footballers to aim higher in their careers and work to realize their aspiration.
As the special guest of honour in the Teshie leg of the 2014 series of Tigo’s Community Soccer, the former Scottish and Russian based winger told the 240 players who took part in the two-day knockout competition that they needed to train hard and take their opportunities in life seriously if they possessed dreams of succeeding as footballers.
“Anything you dream you can achieve,” said the former midfield star.
“But you have to work very hard as if everything depends on it. Opportunities like Tigo Community Soccer gives you the chance for people to appreciate your talent as a footballer. After that, you work hard and keep praying.”
“You will never know what will happen after today,” Kingston told the young enthusiastic footballers who kept chanting his nickname, Sabato while the decorated African Cup of Nations player delivered his inspirational talk.
With popular Ghana’s Most Strongest contestant ‘Teshie Warrior’ by his side and backing the motivational talk, Kingston launched Accra first event in this year’s Tigo Community Soccer Series.
Some the participating teams who got knocked out early included Teshie Estates Preparatory School (TEPS) First Junction, Teshie Maamli and Greda Estates. Nungua Zongo, Nungua Camp 2, Gornno School and other teams seemed to do well but eventually succumbed to the might of overall winners Teshie Las Cala who beat Teshie Sankara in the final while Teshie Zongo finished in third place.
“I love the way this has turned out,” declared the well-travelled former player after all was said and done.
“This is how I started. Playing community football, representing my area and then I started playing for big clubs and eventually to Europe and then the Black Stars. Here in Teshie, there is a lot of talent but people do not have opportunities like Tigo Community Soccer to be spotted and harnessed.”
So enthralled was the former Black Stars player with the soccer that he even refused to move his posh Escalade vehicle from behind the posts where misdirected shots from the players kept hitting it.
Despite pleas from the community to ‘Braa Laryea’ he insisted: “I bought this car with money from football. If another football hits it what would be so wrong with that.”
Aside the football, residents of Teshie in their hundreds came out to be screened by a team from the LEKMA Hopsital for free. The health workers screened residents for glucose levels, High Blood pressure and Hepatitis B.
The Public Relations and Media Manager of Tigo, Kwamena Buckman said: “Tigo is using the very exciting Community Soccer platform to further engage the community.”
“Your health is your wealth. A healthy Community is therefore a wealthy community. We want people to smile about their health status. If you are in good health you are free. If you are not in good health, you can be helped immediately. It’s all Tigo’s way of showing the community that we care.”
From Teshie, Tigo’s Community Soccer will now hit Bukom, Dansoman and Ashaiman before leaving Accra for Nkawkaw, Sekondi and Cape Coast.
By: Citi Sports