Black Stars skipper Stephen Tornado Appiah says the team will by any means possible qualify for Brazil 2014 and shall be title contenders in that competition. According to him, luck eluded them in the ongoing World Cup in South Africa culminating in a dramatic and painful penalty defeat to Uruguay in the quarter finals stage of the competition. He was speaking at the tarmac of the Kotoka International Airport where thousands of supporters and government officials gathered Monday night to give a heroic welcome to the gallant Stars who for the second time running were the only African team to have qualified from their group to the next stage of the competition. The Stars were on the verge of qualifying to a historic semi-final place but a Luis Suarez goal line ‘cheating’ and a penalty miss by Asamoah Gyan meant the Stars will be eliminated via penalties. That notwithstanding, the Stars were met on arrival by a government delegation including the deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Alex Segbefia, Minister for Employment and Social Welfare, Enoch Tei Mensah, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Nii Nortey Dua, Defence Minister, Lt General Smith and deputy Information Minister Okudzeto Ablakwah. Other dignitaries included Reverend Lawrence Tetteh, Samia Nkrumah, MP for Jomoro and more than a thousand supporters clad in the national colours, and singing, cheering and dancing to their own ‘jama’ songs. The Stars arrived at the Kotoka International Airport aboard a South African Airline at 11:30 pm and and were led by the sector Minister Akua Sena Dansua. And when Stephen Appiah and his colleagues branched from their red carpet to give a wave and admiration to the fans for their overwhelming support, the atmosphere was a sight to behold; the vuvuzelas blared and the fire works illuminated the thick dark army of supporters crammed and cordoned off. The police band was also on hand to provide soothing brass band music to which many supporters danced and sang. Deputy Chief of Staff Alex Segbefia congratulated the Stars on holding aloft the flag of Africa. He was particularly full of praise for Asamoah Gyan who has shown lots of temerity even in the face of criticisms by some fans. The President John Mills is expected to organize a reception in honour of the Black Stars at the Castle on Tuesday. The reception will however be preceded by major float by the Black Stars across the principal streets of Accra. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana