League champions, Wa All Stars, have been enlisted among individuals and groups to be rewarded at this year’s Damba Festival of the chiefs and people of the Wala Traditional Area.
Wa All Stars emerged champions of the 2016 Ghana Premier League and will be awarded alongside other distinguished personalities as part of Wala Council’s mandate to honour hardworking citizens every year to spur them on to excellence.
The Overlord of the Wala Traditional Council, Naa Seidu Fuseini Pelpuo, announced this during a courtesy call by officials and players of Wa All Stars to present the prestigious league trophy to him.
In a speech read on his behalf, Naa Pelpuo urged the club to endeavour to always be the best, or at least finish among the first three on the league table, adding that football is a major contributor to national development.
He expressed gratitude to the champions and said it would be on record that it was during his reign that the meritorious cup was won for the region.
He also promised to reward the players and officials, especially the coach, with a cow to feast on and replenish their lost energy during the season.
Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, the Upper West Regional Minister, said the success of the club had added another chapter to the history of the region in terms of football. “This is the first time in the history of Ghana football that a club beyond Bamboi and Yendi has won the league title. “We the people of the Upper West Region must count ourselves lucky that we are the first people; the youngest region in Ghana and in the north to have won this trophy,” he noted.
Alhaji Sulemana said the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) would do its best to support the progress of the club and called on people in the region to throw their weight behind Wa All Stars for more successes in the subsequent seasons. He also said the RCC would officially celebrate the victory of the club.
Mr Seth Panwum, the Team Manager of Wa All Stars, called on Alhaji Sulemana and other stakeholders to work assiduously to upgrade the Malik Jabir Park to the Confederation of African Football standard to enable it to host international games.
He also said the club was faced with the challenge of transportation since it has no bus of its own and, therefore, urged the Regional Minister to help it to acquire one to facilitate its operations.
Wa All Stars were crowned the Ghana Premier League Champions for the 2015/2016 season after sealing their maiden success with a 2-0 home victory over Aduana Stars at the Malik Jabir Park in Wa.