Italy-Ghana: 'Calcio Trade Ball' in the night of football awards
Football, music, personalities from the Italian and Ghanaian football scene was all part of a Gala night last Sunday in Kempinski Hotel in Accra, Ghana, to celebrate a sports beloved in both countries. The Third edition of Calcio Trade Ball was the reason why former footballers, manager, chairpersons, diplomats and football lover gathered for the night that celebrates the friendship between the two countries, a night of awards and entertainment to honor past and present Ghanaian footballers who one stage or another played in Italy. Organized by the Italian Embassy in Ghana and Arthur Legacy the event was intended to also celebrate the contribution of Italy to the development of Ghana football.
The Italian embassy in Ghana and Togo, with ambassador Giovanni Favilli, is the chief patrons of the celebration, jointly with event organizer and principal football agent Oliver Arthur who represent 19 players in Italy. "Calcio Trade Ball has been growing each year becoming with the time a real partnership between our Embassy and Arthur Legacy - ambassador Favilli told Agi - It's an event that celebrates the links between Italy and Ghana in football and also in other fields such as the Culture and Trade. Italy is the country with the highest number of Ghanaian footballers outside Ghana - he stressed. Our two countries have friendship tides, and even now, they are linked by the same destiny and are suffering together being both out of the World Championship due to start on the 14th of June".
The bubbling night fool of entertainment, dining, and music, was attended by more than 250 people. During the night three former Juventus stars received three different awards. The primary reason for the gathering was the awarding of personalities who have overcome various obstacles and made remarkable strides in their fields of endeavor. From Agyemang-Badu's mum to Stephen Appiah who received the most significant awards on the night.
Former Black Star captain Stephen Appiah and ex-Juventus man took the first award "Order of the Star," while Kwadwo Asamoah and Richmond Boayake-Yiadom received one for "Community Service" and "Football Icon of the Year." Appiah, who spent years in Italian football was recognized for what the organizers described as "distinctive acknowledgment of his constituency for both club and country during his playing day".
"Asamoah prisons project" is the reason for his award. His "dedicated volunteerism through the construction of a football pitch for inmates of the James Camp Prison in Accra" is the reason for this year Calcio Trade Ball award to him. Boayake form his part scored 42 goals in 48 matches in 2017, placing him amongst the top-10 scorers in world football. Bechem United bankroller and founder Kingsley Owusu Achau received a Lifetime Outstanding Achievement Award and Theresa Aboma, mother of Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu who claimed the Parent's Impact Award.