Minister of Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has met with Ghana’s old football stars who have played instrumental roles in helping Ghana win all four African Cup of Nation titles. The meeting is part of efforts to get all stakeholders on board a new vision to turn Ghana into a major sporting force and to revive the nation’s glory days. The oldies who were drawn from the four winning sides of 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982 included Nana Agyeman Gyau, Rev. Kofi Pare, Wilberforce Mfum, Kwadwo Addae Kyenkyenhene, Windsor Kofi Abbrey and Joe Carr were clearly appreciative of the ministers effort to reach out to all and sundry in order to get the Nation on the right pedestal after thirty one years of waiting to win yet another African Cup of Nations. They expressed their displeasure with the current state of the Black Stars and the team’s inability to add to the four trophies they won in their playing days. For them, playing for a national team was the pinnacle of a footballer’s career as they barely benefited from the largesse of the state or received the kind of wages paid out to players of the modern game. The minister recalled his memories of the stars as a little kid and praised the gallant heroes for their willingness, passion and dedication to serve the nation during their playing days. He was humbled by the advice given him and promised to do his very best to get National team to perform to its optimum like it did decades before. “I have learnt so much from these revered gentlemen that if I were in school, this was enough to get me a Masters Degree. They have given me a thorough insight into how the sport was managed and the passion with which they availed themselves for national duties. I was lost for words as we discussed these issues and I honestly think that they still have a lot to offer our generation and the game at large. The fact that they have travelled from all corners of the country at their own expense alone gives me a reason to believe that these guys were and are still very committed to the National cause. I have taken their advice on board just like I have done with other stakeholders in the last few weeks and I am sure we can all positively change the sporting face of the country,” he said. This is the second meeting the minister has had with Ghana’s past footballers. Last week, he met with the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana which made up of Anthony Baffour, CK Ackunnor, Odartey Lampety Augustine Arhinful etc.