Features, Sport

Fan Park Zone: GBC garners massive support for Black Stars in Qatar

By: Henrietta Afful
Additional information: Emmanuel Oti.

A mammoth crowd with wild cheers, colourful jerseys and streets adorned with rectangle flag banners of the various channels of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GBC, gave a frenzy atmosphere ahead of the clash between the Blacks Stars of Ghana and the Selecão das quinas of Portugal in their Group H match of the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

This electrifying atmosphere greeted all who drove through the corridors of GBC yesterday. Several football fanatics from all walks of life including the diaspora thronged the forecourt of the Outer Reception of GBC, to watch Ghana’s national Team – the Black Stars in their opening match against Portugal.

Sports enthusiasts and fans of the Black Stars were spotted chanting and singing the national anthem as the Black Stars lined up for the match on Thursday, November 24, 2022.

Jama groups and Supporters’ Union were not left out of an exciting football festival dubbed ‘Fun Park’ at the premises of the State Broadcaster, GBC.

Fun Park Zone: GBC garners massive support for Black Stars in Qatar

Fans were treated to quality live band music from the Ghana Immigration Service Band and when the Black Stars equalized after Portugal took the lead through a penalty, it was a sight to behold! A chilling experience for even people who would not openly declare their support for the Black Stars. The charged atmosphere got people seated vacate their seats to join in the celebrations.

The icing on top of the cake was free paraphernalia from Aquafresh Limited – producers of the fruit juice Kalyppo. Club Premium Larger beer were sold at reduced prices.

GBC’s ROLE

Fan Park Zone: GBC garners massive support for Black Stars in Qatar — Director General of GBC addressing the supporters

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GBC acquired the Free-to-Air broadcast rights for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The rights include television, radio and public viewing (exhibition).

As part of its core mandate to bring to the doorsteps of Ghanaians quality and uninterrupted coverage of the World Cup, GBC is broadcasting selected live soccer matches from the group stages, knockout rounds, quarter and semi-finals and finals, including all matches of the Ghana Black Stars.

Apart from broadcasting some selected matches on TV, Radio and snippets via visual images online – on all its social media platforms, the Corporation mounted a giant screen at the forecourt of GBC to bring Ghanaians together to cheer the Black Stars on.

Speaking to the supporters and Ghanaians as a whole, the Director General of GBC, Professor Amin Alhassan said the ‘Fan Park’ is to rally support for the Black Stars at home and bring entertainment closer to the people as well as serve the various audiences of the Corporation.

This is not the first time the State Broadcaster has made moves to deliberately win back the love of Ghanaians towards the national team.

Its sports programme dubbed “Saving our passion” which aired on the Corporation’s 24-hour sports Channel, GTV SPORTS + on Thursday, February 10, 2022, was to discuss and deliberate on the way forward to redeem Ghana sports with special focus on football.

Despite a spirited performance by the Black Stars in their match yesterday, they lost to Portugal at the Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar.

Viewers and some sports pundits who were at the GBC ‘Fun Park’ expressed their excitement in the performance of the players which almost led to their victory. The score line at the end of the game was Portugal – 3, Black Stars – 2.

The Black Stars will play their second game against South Korea on Monday, November 28, 2022. This game is an absolute must-win for both, if they are to have a sniff of a chance at progressing to the knockout stages. Portugal will also face Uruguay on the same day.

With the joy and hope displayed by the crowd that gathered at the premises of GBC and those who watched from their various homes and other places through GBC channels, it indicates that the State Broadcaster is mobilizing the fun and love of the game back in Ghanaians.