The Ghana Police football team has emerged as a strong candidate to represent Ghana at an international Mini-Football tournament in Turkey, following an engagement between the Professional Ghana Mini Football Federation (PGMF) and the Serviceβs Sports Directorate.
The proposed assignment presents an important opportunity for the Ghana Police football team to translate its impressive domestic sporting credentials into international exposure while giving Ghana a chance to showcase its talent on the global Mini-Football stage.
A delegation from PGMF, led by its President, Noel Adubah, and Secretary-General, Prosper Richardson, paid a working visit to the Ghana Police Headquarters in Accra, where they met the Director of Sports, ASP Bernice Rashidatu Timbilla, to discuss the possibility of the Service taking up the assignment.
The discussions centred on the proposed participation of a Police Mini-Football team at the tournament in Turkey, as well as the logistics, financial requirements and preparations that would be necessary to enable the team to compete effectively.
Mr Adubah explained that the Police team was being considered because of its long-standing reputation for sporting excellence, discipline, teamwork and institutional organisation.
A Police football team, he noted, would have the discipline and competitive mentality required to represent Ghana creditably, while the international exposure could provide a significant boost to the players and the Service’s wider sporting programme.
The assignment could also serve as a platform for identifying and developing players capable of progressing to higher levels of Mini-Football and other forms of football.
The need for the Police team to take up the challenge is further strengthened by the Service’s recent performance in domestic security-service competitions.
That success, coupled with the Service’s established sporting structures, makes the Police a logical institution to carry Ghana’s flag at an international Mini-Football competition.
For the Ghana Police Service, participation in Turkey would be about more than simply competing for honours.
The tournament could expose Police players to different styles of play, international coaching approaches and higher levels of competition. Such experience could subsequently be transferred to other Police athletes and contribute to the overall development of the Service’s sporting programmes.
International participation could also enhance the profile of the Ghana Police Service as an institution that not only protects the country but also actively promotes physical fitness, discipline, teamwork and talent development among its personnel.
It could equally provide the players with an opportunity to gain international recognition and establish relationships that may open further sporting opportunities for them.
ASP Bernice Timbilla outlined some of the initiatives and reforms being pursued under her leadership, stressing the importance of creating broader opportunities for Police personnel to participate in sporting activities.
Her vision places sports at the centre of physical fitness, discipline, teamwork, talent identification and institutional pride.
Despite the limited preparation time, ASP Bernice Timbilla expressed appreciation to the PGMF delegation for considering the Police Service for the international assignment.
She indicated her willingness to engage the appropriate management structures within the Service to explore the possibility of securing the resources required to facilitate participation.
She therefore requested PGMF to submit the complete tournament programme, participation package, budget, logistical requirements and other relevant details for presentation to the Sports Management Team.
Should the Ghana Police team accept the invitation, the Turkey tournament could become an important milestone in the development of institutional sports in Ghana.
It would provide the Service with the opportunity to demonstrate that its sporting strength extends beyond domestic competitions and that Ghanaian security-service teams can compete confidently on international platforms.
For PGMF, securing the participation of the Police would also represent a significant step towards building stronger institutional partnerships and creating international pathways for Ghanaian Mini-Football players.
Mr Adubah expressed appreciation to ASP Bernice Timbilla and her team for the warm reception and the opportunity to present the proposal.
He reaffirmed PGMF’s commitment to working with institutions capable of contributing to the growth of Mini-Football in Ghana.
As a gesture of goodwill, the delegation presented ASP Timbilla with a branded PGMF jersey.
For the Police players who could earn selection, the assignment would offer a rare opportunity to test themselves against international opposition, gain invaluable experience and return home with knowledge that could help raise the standard of Mini-Football within the Service.
With the Police already demonstrating its competitive strength at home, the proposed Turkey assignment could provide the perfect stage for the Service to take its sporting excellence beyond Ghana’s borders and fly the national flag with pride.