Ghana’s National Amputee Football Team, the Black Challenge, is frustrated amid a lack of support from the government for the 2024 Amputee African Cup of Nations.
They beat The Gambia 4-0 in their opening game before demolishing Algeria 5-0 and then wrapped up their group campaign with a 2-1 win over Kenya.
The Black Challenge will face Tanzania on Thursday in the quarterfinals but face motivation concerns.
“There is no motivation at all [from the government],” the team’s captain, Richard Arthur, told JoySports in an exclusive interview. “We always wonder why, whenever it is time to support people with disabilities, the nation always shies away from those responsibilities.”
The head coach, Richard Obeng, is hoping to boost the morale of his charges ahead of the crucial encounter.
“As a coach, I have to stand in and speak with the players so that they won’t be demoralized. “Though we lack a lot of things in our camp and hotel right now, as the coach, I have to tune my mind and make sure they stand tall and strong and represent Mother Ghana at the highest level.”
Notwithstanding the problem, the Black Challenge remains determined to secure victory and qualify for the last four of AAFCON.
