The National Sports Authority is open to the possibility of renaming a stadium in Ghana after the football legend, Pele, who passed away aged 82.
This is according to the Director General of the Authority, Professor Peter Twumasi.
The latest development comes on the back of a proposal from FIFA president, Gianni Infantino at Pele’s memorial service in Brazil, that member associations should name a stadium after the three-time world cup winner.
Professor Twumasi told the Ghana News Agency:
“The call by Infantino for nations to name a stadium in recognition of the football king, Pelé, is something many nations always do to honour their hero.”
“For me, it is a good motivation for young players who aspire to reach the pinnacle of football and also serves as a magnet to unite people around the world.”
“There are procedures to be followed in the renaming of the stadium and as we did with the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, and we are willing to engage appropriate stakeholders to make this happen, especially given the vast number of unnamed new sporting facilities in the country,”.
Cape Verde became the first African country to express plans to rename their 15,000-seater Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde after the late Brazilian great.
The Accra, Cape Coast and Essipong Stadiums are available for a name change as the Kumasi and Tamale Stadiums are already in the names of former Black Stars player, Baba Yara and Ex-Ghana Vice President, Aliu Mahama respectively.