President Mahama: "I am positive and optimistic about Black Stars"

President John Dramani Mahama on Monday stated that he was positive and optimistic that the national senior football team, the Black Stars would put up a sterling performance to advance out of the group stages.

He said:" The Black stars have a reputation that was built during their first two appearances in the World Cup and will like to protect that reputation as they prepare against the USA, Portugal and Germany in the Brazil tournament."

President Mahama, who was giving a goodwill message at the Flagstaff House, Kanda, to the Stars in their encounter tonight against old foes the United States of America in Natal, Brazil, said the Stars cannot afford to disappoint Ghanaians.

The National team is beginning its 2014 World Cup journey tonight as they take on the USA, a country they had defeated in the last two encounters, before meeting Portugal and Germany in a group termed as 'group of death'.

Their survival or exit in the month- long tournament would depend on their performance against their opponents at the group stages.

President Mahama said although Ghanaians were predicting scores against their opponents, he would not make any prediction, but was confident and optimistic that Ghana would win their matches.

He called on Ghanaians everywhere to throw their weight and support behind the national team by flying Ghana flags and other patriotic paraphernalia that would whip up their enthusiasm to perform in the tournament.

GNA