Please don’t nail the Black Stars – Mills

President John Evans Atta Mills pleads with Ghanaians not to “nail the Black Stars” for their loss at the quarter-final stage of the ongoing World Cup tournament in South Africa.

The senior national team lost 4-2 on penalties to Uruguay after a 1-1 drawn game that went into extra-time. The Stars who were tipped by many to win the match threw away a penalty in the dying minutes of the game after Luis Suarez pushed a goal bound header with his hands. Striker Asamoah Gyan’s kick hit the crossbar.

The President who is currently in Cape Verde for the ECOWAS Summit, in a press release signed by him and copied to ghanabusinessnews.com Saturday July 3, 2010, congratulated the team and said the Black Stars have done Ghana and Africa proud and on behalf of the people and Government of Ghana,”I congratulate Stephen Appiah and his teammates for a job well done.”

“In yesterday’s match, there was going to be only one winner, and unfortunately, it was not the Black Stars.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, as a nation, we must not lose sight of the fact that the Black Stars flew high the flag of Ghana and we must be proud of our senior national football team for the honour done us.”

Pleading with Ghanaians he said, “We must not nail them for what happened yesterday, rather, let us continue to support them and show our appreciation for what they have achieved.

This team certainly has character and fortitude and there is no gainsaying the fact that they will continue to bring laurels to Mother Ghana.”

The President asked Ghanaians to accord the Stars a heroic welcome on their return to the country.

The president was also grateful to coach Milovan Rajevac and his technical team for giving off their best.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi