Accra, Aug. 21, GNA – The maiden edition of the John Agyekum Kufuor Cup match, to celebrate the 80th birthday of the former president has been launched.
The cup match, which would be played beween the two most glamorous clubs in the country; Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante on Sunday, October 28, at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
This charity match being organized by Primeval Media under the auspices of the John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK) Foundation, look to raise funds amounting to GH¢80 million cedis for the various developments and leadership projects under the foundation.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Kufuor said, football has played a significant role in the life of people and that, it has brought about peace and harmonious living.
« Football has become a major vessel for promoting peace on earth and I don’t think there is anything in terms of institutionalize sports to beat football, in bringing people together for peace and happiness, » he said.
He added that even though he was a fan of Kototo, he would remain neutral in the upcoming match, which is being played in his honour.
« Now that Hearts have agreed to play the match in Kumasi to honour me, I think it’s only fair for me to state here that, for this grand match that is coming on, Kufuor would be like the father of both sides, so that we woudl enjoy a solid match between the two old rivals, » the former President said.
Mr. Isaac K. Asiamah said these two clubs can become springboard for the promotion of other lesser known sports, like we have in other places with the likes of Barcelona promoting basketball and other disciplines.
« So Kotoko and Hearts are hugely and uniquely placed to promote other lesser known sports, so reforming Ghana’s sports begin from this two clubs, » he stated.
Mr. Asiamah also lauded the efforts of the former President in taking Ghana, to her first World cup as they would engage him in this crisis era of Ghana’s football for wise counsel.
Meanwhile, the funds raised from the match, would be channeled to various project with five million dollars allocated to the construction of an ultra-modern Centre for Leadership and Governance at the University of Ghana.
Investment returns would be used for the running of the various projects of the Foundation, which includes The Kufuor Scholars Programmme (KSP), The Kufuor Young Entrepreneurs Network, Annual Lecture Series on Governance and Development, The Kufuor Election Observers Group, and The Kufuor Prize for Best Community Leadership.
