This is the moment to put your names in gold - Kurt okraku tells Black Stars

President of the Ghana Football Association Kurt Okraku has admonished the Black Stars to put their names in gold by qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The President said this on Tuesday when he called on the team at the Swiss Spirits Alisa Hotel in Accra before they departed for Cape Coast.

Ghana journey to another senior Male football World Cup begins on Friday, September 3, 2021, when the Black Stars face Ethiopia in a Group G encounter.

The Black Stars have made three World Cup appearances (2006, 2010, 2014) - But failed to make it to the last edition in Russia three years ago.

"I just have a few words to share. I think all of us here have been waiting for this moment, a moment to correct our history, a moment to put our names in gold, a moment to make our individual families and our good selves proud. It's a moment I have been waiting for as the leader of this family because perhaps this is my very first time," President Simeon-Okraku said.

"And it's a moment each one of you should be looking up to if you are a top player. If you are a top player, you need to belong to the topmost platform in football. If any of you is not a top player, this is not the door, its means you don't belong to this platform that confront us beginning on Friday.

"If you are a top player, this is the time. If you call yourself a top player, the World Cup is the biggest platform you can think about as a career – where all the big players assemble and show what they are made of. If you are a top coach, this is the time to show. In the same vein, if you are a top manager, this is the time to show.

"The preparations towards the games start from here. It's so important that each one of us will keep our minds firmly focused on the end vision. The end vision is to qualify to the Mundial, and that is why we are all challenged to be part of that massive platform.

"It won't only take my effort, your effort or the effort of the Technical team to take us to the promised land - But our collective effort.

"That is why when you are selected on Friday, you have to go and play as a unit. It will not be easy, but each one of us has the responsibility to encourage each other right from the blast of the whistle to make our dream real.

"Again, it will not be easy, but when we stay as a unit, we will go through this battle. We believe we have enough quality – we believe we are the best, and that belief must be translated into good results on Friday and on Monday in South Africa.

"The Government of Ghana has absolute belief in this squad. We are Ghana – we may not be the richest, but we are rich on the pitch, we have talents, and we have to show what we have. We are very happy that all of us have responded positively to this national course.

"As you leave here to Cape Coast, let us remember that team teamwork and its only teamwork that will take us to the promised land. On behalf of the football family, I wish each one of you the very best," the President added.

The game is scheduled for 7 pm kick-off on Friday, September 3, 2021.

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