You Are Great: Prez Tells Victorious Satellites & Promises Handsome Reward

An overjoyed President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday received players and technical handlers of the victorious Black Satellites at the Castel, Osu, promising that the government was engaged in consultations and would, at the appropriate time, reward the team handsomely for winning the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt. Flanked by the Vice-President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, and other high-ranking government officials, President Mills said for bringing such an enviable glory to the country, the government would reward the team to encourage Ghanaians to strive for higher laurels for the country. According to him, the exploits of the players, which were historic, would not go unrecognized, adding that the nation had to fittingly reward its citizens who distinguished themselves in all aspects of life. President Mills said the government had started serious discussions on the kind of package to be put together to show the nation�s gratitude and appreciation to the Black Satellites. He said since ingratitude was an atrocious act and an unforgivable sin under the sun, the government would show the nation�s gratitude to the players by offering them handsome and attractive packages. �This feat will put the name of Ghana on the soccer map of the world, for which the players deserve our thanks in a special way,� President Mills said. He reminded Ghanaians that the victory of the Black Satellites was achieved through hard work and determination which should be emulated by the people to advance the social and economic development of the country. President Mills further explained that the deep sense of unity and determination displayed by the players greatly helped them to overcome every obstacle which came their way in the tournament. He thanked Coach Sellas Tetteh and the technical handlers of the team and said their encouragement and motivation went a long way to spur the players on to win the final match when the team played with 10 men. President Mills thanked the President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, as well as the generality of Egyptians for openly declaring their support for the Black Satellites in the final match. The Captain of the Black Satellites, Andre Dede Ayew, who presented the trophy to President Mills, thanked the government for activity supporting the team by offering them packages which fired them up to go for the ultimate. He also had praises for the people of Ghana for standing solidly behind the team throughout the entire soccer fiesta and promised that the team would work hard to win more championships for Ghana. �We will die for our Motherland and the winning of this championship is just the beginning of great things to come,� Ayew said. For his part, the Vice-President commended the players for making Ghana proud, adding that the virtues of hard work, determination and unity displayed by the team during the tournament should be emulated by all Ghanaians. The president of the Ghana Football Association, Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, said the victory of the Black Satellites �gives us hope that the future of football in the country is very bright�. Nii Nortey Dua, the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, said the feat chalked by the Black Satellites was unprecedented in the country�s soccer history at the Under 20 football level.