Afro Arab Group of Companies has unveiled a new astroturf at Nima and has named it Emirates Arena.
The ceremony which took place on Saturday evening, September 28, 2019, was well patronized by locals of the community.
The launch of the astroturf was an event well graced with footballing legends trooping in for the occasion.
The likes of ex-Nigeria and Arsenal legend, Nwankwo Kanu, Black Meteors coach, Ibrahim Tanko and ex-Black Stars player, Derek Boateng all in attendance.
Two presidential aspirants for the vacant Ghana Football Association seat were also in attendance.
Lawyer George Ankomah Mensah and George Afriyie as the attendees of the event.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Afro Arab, Salamu Amadu, he drew inspiration from ex-President John Dramani Mahama before naming the pitch Emirates.
“In my life, I draw inspiration from the former president, John Mahama, he calls the Kwame Nkrumah interchange ‘Dubai in Circle’ so I have also brought Emirates to Nima.”
The CEO also added that he picks lessons of perseverance and consistency from the president of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo.
“Many people mocked Nana that he will never become president, but today he is our president. This has been my life story.
I watch people say I cannot do something and I laugh like the video of the president’s laughter which is on the internet.
The things my father couldn’t do, I am doing them and I will do them.”
The CEO named the new astroturf after the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Ghana, Emirates-Khalifa Yousif Al Zaabi.
Speaking after the unveiling, Salamu Amadu stated the pitch is for all persons and age groups but quickly added he does not know if people will pay to get access to it later.
“There won’t be any restriction to the access of the pitch.
However, I don’t know if people will have to pay later to access this facility, that is for the group to decide if there will be a fee or not.”
Alhaji Salamu added that he is interested in helping produce young talents as he owns a Division Two club in the capital.
I am interested in developing youth football and I know this pitch will help develop talents for the country.
That is why I also own Spartan FC which is a division two league club and so I understand what it takes to help people play good football
As a curtain-raiser for the event, two U-15 sides played against each other before a selected Nwankwo Kanu side played against a selected Bright Addae team.
The game ended 11-11 in regular time and the selected Bright Addae side won on penalties, courtesy some goalkeeping heroics.
The Afro Arab Group of Companies is a Ghanaian owned business entity founded in January 2007 by Alhaji Salamu Amadu, Chief Executive Officer.
Below are some of the pictures from the new astroturf:
