We will beat Ghana-- Mali coach Carteron

Mali coach Patrice Carteron

COACH of the Malian national team, Patrice Carteron, says he will beat Ghana to ensure his charges become the first side to qualify for the quarter finals stage of the 2013 African Cup of Nations currently on-going in South Africa.

Mali, who currently leads Group B with three points after defeating Niger 1-0 Sunday night, was the first country to win a game at the tournament which has been plagued by drawn games.

For him, Ghana is a good side but he has better and a disciplined team that will triumph over the Black Stars, come tomorrow in their second group game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

“I watched Ghana’s game against DR Congo and I believe they should have won that game hands down but for the lack of tactical indiscipline on the part of the players they drew and I see that happening in our game against them.”

Malian midfielder Seydou Keita celebrates after scoring the lone goal against Niger

Speaking to Happy Fm from the team’s Protea Hotel in Nelspruit South Africa, Coach Carteron stated that he was mapping up a strategy to continue from where the DR Congo side left off against the Stars on Sunday, insisting that he will surely win to make sure Mali become the first country to make it to the next round. 

According to him, morale in camp after their win over Niger is very high and it will be one of the key factors as they go into their next game against the four-time African champions.

“We are having turbulent times back home and I believe a win over Ghana which will automatically see us qualifying for the quarter finals which will bring some joy and peace to the people of Mali.”

Black Stars players celebrating the opening goal of AFCON 2013

Although sounding very confident of beating Ghana, the coach revealed that he and his side are being cautious of a surprise from the young Ghanaian side who he believed played below their power in the opening game against Dr Congo.

“There are individually good players in the Ghana team who on a good day can cause havoc to any good side, so I will design a strategy to keep those players at bay and make sure they do not stop us from qualifying,”he added.

Zoomlion supports Supporters Unions to AFCON 2013

Dr Agyepong (right) presenting the dummy cheque to Dr. Omane Boamah(left) and Mr. Humado

In response to a request from various Supporters Unions to the management of Zoomlion Ghana Limited for sponsorship to the African Cup of Nations in South Africa, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, CEO of ZoomLion and Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies has presented a cheque of $50,000 to help government air lift Ghanaian supporters to support the Black Stars to victory.

“Supporters play a very huge role in the success of a team and I believe this presentation will go a long way to help make the players feel at home and to play their hearts out and end our 31 years of trophy drought at the Nations Cup in South Africa.”

“The present crop of players are determined to write their names in gold and as supporters all we can do is to give them our fullest support to ensure they deliver on their promise.”

Dr. Agyepong said the presentation was also in response to the initiative to send supporters to the AFCON by the President John Mahama during the farewell visit by the Black Stars players to him at the Castle Osu.

Going by the mantra “uniting the nation through sports and sanitation” the 2011 best entrepreneur of the Year tasked the traveling supporters to exhibit a high level of cleanliness and help make South Africa a clean country during the tournament.

The vociferous Supporters Union were also present at the ceremony

He urged Ghanaians to give the Black Star their full backing during the tournament, saying they started very well during their training period in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Omane Boamah coordinator for Ghana’s campaign at AFCON 2013 who received the cheque on behalf of the government commended Zoomlion for the gesture and called on other corporate bodies to follow of Zoomlion.

He further presented a 1000 pieces of Zoomlion branded polo shirts to the supporters and cautioned them to demonstrate the highest form of discipline while in South Africa.

"As responsible adults I expect you to be disciplined and to keep be good ambassadors of Ghana while in South Africa, he said

Dr Agyepong present the polo shirt Dr. Omane Boamah

He revealed that information he has received from South Africa showed that during the tournament it will be windy and called on traveling supporters to carry along protective clothes to be able to withstand the unfriendly weather in Port Elizabeth where the Black Stars would be based for their group games.

Caretaker Minister of Youth and Sports Clement Humado said without the supporter’s morale would be very low in the Black Stars camp team and called upon the privileged 1000 supporters to be at their cheering best to push the team to the top.