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The National Amputee Soccer team, the black challengers are scheduled to participate in the upcoming World soccer Championship for the Amputees next year. The competition is likely to be hosted by France, Argentina or England. Even though England was originally scheduled to host the championship, its preparation towards the next Olympics games has brought France and Argentina as possible hosts.
In 2004 the black challengers qualified for the tournament, however late arrival in Turkey and inadequate preparation could not permit them to play any of the scheduled matches. In order to build a winsome side, a justify-your-inclusion session was organized at the James Town Mantse Agbonaa Park on Friday 25 September 2009. The exercise was also meant to ensure that the best available players are selected for the event. The 22 selected players have since moved to the team’s camp and trains regularly at the Prisons Headquarters football field in Cantonment. The black challengers are expected to draw some inspiration from the recent success of the Satellites.
Prior to the Amputee world cup, the black challengers will be participating in this year COPA Brotherhood Tournament, a 10-nation championship, in the City Crespo, Argentina between 23rd and 28 November 2009. The other participating countries in the Copa Brotherhood Tournament include Brazil, Liberia Argentina, Britain and France.
According to the Coach of the Black Challengers, Benjamin Charles Armah the team is poised to excel at the two events. However a major difficulty facing the team is that due to lack of funding the team has not been have any serious camping. Adequate sponsorship from both the public and private sector will therefore a step in the right direction. It will be recall that in 2008 the National Paralympics team was denied support by the government and had to travel to Beijing through the last minute intervention of some philanthropists.
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