The maiden edition of the Onua-GC Brand Community League was launched over the weekend with a football gala at Mexico School Park in Tema Community 2.
The launch was climaxed with the gala to select the representatives for Zone 1 for the competition.
The Onua GC Brand Community League is a unique initiative that aims to promote community engagement, entertainment, and healthy lifestyles through soccer.
The tournament is structured into four zones within Greater Accra, with eight teams participating in each zone.
The top two teams from each zone will converge in the finale to determine the overall champion.
Therefore, the gala which followed the launch was to select the two communities to represent Zone 1.
Addressing the gathering at the launch, Minister of Sports and Recreation Kofi Iddie Adams commended the Onua Group for the initiative, urging other corporate bodies to do same, especially as the Mahama-led government has a new direction for sports and lifestyle in general.
He, therefore, endorsed the initiative and pledged the full backing of his ministry.
The Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, was full of praise for the initiative, stressing that the country is imbued with a lot of talent in football and it takes initiatives like this to unearth some of them.
He, therefore, urged the players not to take for granted the opportunity given them.
The Export Manager of headline sponsors GC Brand, Ali Jihami, expressed excitement about the partnership with Onua for such a tournament.
For him, this is how the brand wants to give back to their customers by way of corporate social responsibility.
The curtain raiser saw GC Brand XI play a goalless draw with Onua XI.
It was immediately followed by the first game between Ashaiman Revelations and Ashaiman Future Stars. The former won 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The second game saw Tema Community 1 lose 3-2 on penalties to Tema Community 7 after a 0-0 draw in full regulation time.
Hosts Tema Community 2 beat Dawhenya 1-0 while Tema Community 13 bowed to Sakumono Estates 3-1 on penalties after a goalless draw.
Ashaiman Revelations came back to the pitch to beat Tema Community 7 3-1 on penalties to book their ticket to the final next month. The match had ended goalless.
Tema Community 2 beat Sakumono Estates 2-1 to join Ashaiman Revelations as the qualified teams from Zone 1.
The League moves to Zone 2, where eight communities incuding Madina, Adenta, Dodowa and Aburi will slug it out for the two slots for the final.
The opening ceremony was graced by Black Stars and Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare and former Asante Kotoko and Gor Mahia midfielder Enoch Morrison.
