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| A year On, Night Street Soccer |
Night Street Soccer League, a 5-aside community football league in the Ho Municipality has become a house hold name after it came into existence a year ago just at the time football in the country was suffering from the darkest moment of Anas Exposè.
An initiative from Tilda Elinam Acolor, a 3 time winner of the GJA Volta Sports Journalist of the year, is the brain behind this special event.
Miss Tilda in an interview with 24hourssports.com, revealed the reason for organizing the Night Street Soccer in the Ho Municipality.
" I was walking along Nfodzo Park one evening and I saw a couple of guys playing soccer, a 5-aside game at that hour. The youths who are mainly occasioned at the Nfodjo Park were noted for all the bad deeds around the area, a perception I decided to change through football, so I thought, since the guys loves to play the game at that hour, I decided to come up with the initiative of engaging them in a community league, this I believe will change the narrative of the youths in the area"
Narrating the success of the maiden's edition, Tilda described the 1st season as an overly achieved league adding that, the expectations of the communities embracing the tournament was met with joy.
"Overly achieved, if you ask me, the people of Anlokordzi embraced the league, other invited communities embraced it, folks and spectators were awesome and always made it a point to be present at the games venue on Thursday evenings just to catch a glimpse of a night community 5-aside league" she explained.
The formation of the Night Street Soccer in the first edition began with 6 teams namely, Vanakpoe, Anlokordzi, Housing, Anagokordzi, Bankoe and Barracks saw the needed support from all quarters. The league as per the records, is the first of its kind in the regional's capital, Ho.
Nothing goes without a challenge, just like any other, Tilda Elinam Acolor tells the challenges the Night Street Soccer has faced in its first season.
"It was difficult getting sponsorships for the maiden season, getting sponsorships is a regional challenge, we are hopeful our second season would get the necessary backing that we are expecting"
"As we awaits the deadly coronavirus pandemic to leave us, hopefully the Night Street Soccer League will return bigger and better than last years' " she said
It is expected the Night Street Soccer League is extended for other interested communities to join, this she disclosed management of the Night Street Soccer has the intention to extend the number of participating teams in the next edition.
Earlier, the Night Street Soccer Team as part of marking its first anniversary at the Nfodzo Park had a Mask Up awareness creation on Friday, May 15. Demonstrations on how to wash hands with saop under running water and the application on the use of alcohol based hand sanitizer were taught.
Speaking at the event, Miss Tilda Acolor advised the gatherings to visit the hospital any time they feel fevered or when they are frequently coughing.
"Go to the doctor if you have a fever, cough or feel that it is difficult to breathe"
The Night Street Soccer league is expected to start in the not too distant future when the ban on social gathering is lifted by H. E Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo.