CEO of Keta Sunset Sports, Mr Dzidodo Ruben Adzahoe writes

Kebbi State is in Northern Nigeria.

They have no beaches, their land is a bit muddy and not adequately suitable for beach soccer.

Their State government however adopted beach soccer and their team play on “self made” beach soccer grounds they created on a horse track.

Sunset Sports - Keta played in their Sallah International tournament in 2018 and we emerged 1st runners up.

The Kebbi Beach Soccer team, is ranked No 1 in Africa on the FIFA beach soccer world rankings by virtue of the fact that they played at the FIFA World Winners Cup in Alarnya Turkey in 2019. 

They achieved all these because their State Government has committed to the development of the sports and have a partnership with the Kebbi Beach Soccer Club.

In Keta, we boast of arguably the most beautiful beach front in West Africa. We have two of the very best clubs in Ghana (Sunset Sports Keta and Havedzi Warriors). We provide players to the National team. Sunset Sports are currently winners of the biggest African Club Competition & Ghana’s most successful club.

The Keta based team defeated the Kebbi State team at Copa Lagos (2019) and their own State tournament in (2018). We are not ranked by FIFA because we have not yet played at the tournament to get us on the rankings though we are Champions in Africa. (We will make the rankings some day 🙏🏻)

Our local assembly (KeMA), has never recognized the club and does not give any form of support to beach soccer development. (From inception of the sports under both governments).

The national sports authority, ministry of youth and sports, the Ghana football association invited us over to present the Copa Lagos Club Championship to their offices in Accra. But the Keta Municipal Assembly operating in Keta did not even acknowledge our efforts let alone extend an invitation.

A lot has been said about developing beach soccer and sports in Keta but trust me, the promises are merely lip service. “Our own people” only pretend to be on our side to look good and promote their cause.

Honestly I don’t know if I make any sense typing but all I want to point out is the contrasting situations.

God gave us everything to help us get there in the sport. Natural playing area, top players and yet we don’t get to support each other in making good use of that. Maybe you need to travel on a 3 days bus journey to Kebbi to learn, Abi? 

Someday, we go make am. Good job, Kebbi State!