By Tilda Acorlor
The management of West African Football Academy Soccer Club (WAFA SC) has officially inaugurated its newly installed AstroTurf pitch in Sogakofe, Volta Region.
The pitch, which cost over GHC 150,000, was constructed over the course of a month, replacing the previous one that had served the academy for more than 16 years. It was constructed by the then-owners, Red Bull Academy.
The inauguration was chaired by the Chairman of the Volta Regional Football Association, Mr. Daniel Agbogah.
It also attracted several dignitaries, including the Chief of the Fieve Traditional Area, Awafiagah Akotianumah IV, and representatives from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and African Tiger Holdings.
The newly installed AstroTurf was constructed by the South African company, Artificial Grass Africa. With proper maintenance, it is expected to last for several years. The pitch will continue to host WAFA’s home matches, along with international, national, and local tournaments.
Chairman Daniel Agbogah commended the management of WAFA SC for their commitment to developing football in the Volta Region since its establishment.
“Since WAFA came here, I must admit that they have added value to the football ecosystem of our region. This new football pitch is one of many initiatives aimed at providing the best possible environment for players and the sport to develop and thrive,” he said.
The CEO of African Tiger Holdings, Imoro Sulemana, said the company is committed to developing football talent in Ghana through WAFA SC, with the aim of producing top players for the international market.
“The ambition of African Tiger in this whole enterprise is that we believe in the project of WAFA SC and we are always ready to support it and whatever is necessary to make it progress and to grow we’ll always be there to do it,” he said.
Managing Director of WAFA SC, Joannes Gosgens, expressed his excitement at the project’s completion, describing it as a historic moment for the academy.
“This is a memorable occasion, the beautiful happy face that we are seeing here this morning is a result of the belief and the hard work of the management of WAFA,” he said.
The GFA representative, Mr. Gideon Fosu, lauded WAFA’s management for their hard work in developing their facility.
The pitch was officially opened by the grandson of the late owner of African Tiger Holdings, Henry Winches, who also performed the ceremonial kick-off to commence a two-day invitational tournament featuring six teams.
The tournament featured teams including WAFA SC, Avranches, Fieldmasters, Shooting Stars, Benab, and Gold Coast Academy, attracting international scouts.
For 26 years, WAFA SC has developed many talented players who have gone on to play for top clubs in Ghana and abroad.
A minute of silence was observed in memory of the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, who inaugurated the academy when it was newly established.
African Tiger Holdings Ltd is a privately owned group of companies, with WAFA SC in its portfolio since October 23, 1999.
African Tiger Holdings Ltd was established in Ghana in 1996 with long-term investments in various fields such as agriculture, real estate and property development, sports, hospitality, and financial services investments.
