Cape Coast-based Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs on Wednesday, September 12 beat Elmina Sharks 8-7 on penalties to win the 2018 Ghana Has Talent Invitational Tournament held at the Tema Sports Stadium.
The 12-team event, organised by International Allies in conjunction with the Proball Football Management and Capelli Sports, saw Dwarfs beat Ashantigold Sporting Club 2-0 in their opening match, drew 0-0 with Inter Allies before meeting Elmina Sharks in the final.
Elmina Sharks also reached the final after winning 3-2 in their opening game against Berekum Chelsea and defeated Dreams FC 1-0.
For emerging winners of the NASCO-Sponsored event, Dwarfs received a home theater and souvenirs while players who excelled also took home other NASCO products as rewards.
Medeama’s Akwasi Donsu was adjudged the Best Midfielder, Ibrahim Abdallah of Dreams FC won the Best Defender, Liberty Professionals’ Brite Andoh was the Discovery of the Tournament while Charles Bismark Kwarena of Berekum Chelsea was adjudged the Overall Best Talent as well as the top scorer with two goals.
According to the organisers, the three-day event was meant to offer an opportunity to the players to showcase their talent in front of a group of scouts and agents from Europe and the United States, who are currently in the country, for a possible recruitment.
“It is an invitational tourney so we invited some of the Premier League clubs because we just wanted to offer the platform for the players to display their talent and to give them the opportunity to further their careers,” said Dzidodo Ruben Adjahoe, a member of the Inter Allies media team.
For his part, Tommy Soehn from Birmingham Legion FC of the United Soccer League, America, believes the tournament will offer him and his colleagues “a chance to look at some of the talents here in Ghana and I have seen a lot of tactical skills from the kids. I have been here a few times so I know the value of this tourney.”
“It’s a viable competition and we will evaluate their performances and pick those who are viable for us. Some of them will surely get the shot and opportunity to go to either Europe or America once they prove themselves at the clubs that they will be taken to,” said Mr Soehn in an interview with Graphic Sports Online.
In attendance were the Executive Chairman of Dreams FC, Kurt E S Okraku, Inter Allies president Rabeh El-Eter, ProBall Management boss, Omar El-Eter, Inter Allies CEO, Eric Delali Senaye and president of Ashantigold, Dr Kwaku Frimpong.
Day 1 Results:
Liberty Professionals 0-0 Dreams FC
Inter Allies 1-1 Medeama SC (Dan Amanfo/Joseph Tetteh Zutah)
Elmina Sharks 3-2 Berekum Chelsea (Felix Addo, Richard Mpong, Quainoo/ Bismark Antwi Kwarena 2x)
Day 2 Results:
Ashantigold SC 1-0 Berekum Chelsea (Godfred Asiamah)
Elmina Sharks 1-0 Dreams FC (Tetteh Nortey)
Medeama SC 1-0 Liberty Professionals (Akwasi Donsu)
Inter Allies 1-1 Ebusua Dwarfs (Paul Abanga / Jacob Apratwum)
FINAL – Ebusua Dwarfs 0-0 Elmina Sharks (Dwarfs win 8-7 on penalties)
Final Day (Junior Category)
Cedar Stars Academy 2-0 Great Somas
Star Makers 0-0 Action FC
Still Believe 0-0 Cheetah FC
Cedar Stars A 1-0 Cedar Stars B
AshantiGold SC 0-2 Ebusua Dwarfs (Amos Nkrumah, Solomon Gyesi Okudzeto)
Award winners
Best Midfielder – Akwasi Donsu (Medeama)
Best Defender – Ibrahim Abdallah (Dreams FC)
Discovery of the Tournament – Brite Andoh Liberty Professionals)
Overall Best Talent – Charles Bismark Kwarena (Berekum Chelsea)
Top Scorer – Charles Bismark Kwarena (Berekum Chelsea)
Source: Graphic.com.gh