On Saturday, June 18, 2022, the 2022 Calcio Trade Ball was held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, Ghana, where the beauty of football met the class of commercial trade.
As giants of the game and young people gather in the ballroom to honor men and exchange pleasantries, the night illustrates the transition between what is in football and what will be in the sport.
The event is organized by Arthur Legacy and its CEO and player agent Oliver Arthur, and it brings together Ghanaian footballers and the Italian community in Ghana.
Six individuals were honored at the end of the night for their outstanding season performances and contributions to football.
Oliver Arthur, the company’s CEO and player agent, spoke about the long-standing relationship between Ghana and Italy, the mission of ArthurLegacy Sports, and what the company has been up to recently despite the consequences of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Daniela d’Orlandi, the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, spoke at the event about the relationship between Italy and Ghana, as well as her commitment to the issue of helping players attain their full potential.
Mustapha Ussif, Ghana’s Sports Minister, praised Oliver Arthur on organizing the event and expressed his hope for greater collaboration between Ghana and Italy.
Edmund Addo of Moldova’s FC Sheriff won the Arthur Legacy of the Year award for his remarkable season, which included winning the Moldovan Cup and League crowns as well as participating in the UEFA Champions League.
Felix Afena-Gyan, a rising talent, was named Most Promising Player of the Year.
The Special Recognition Award was granted to Alhaji Grusah, the CEO and founder of King Faisal Babies, for his significant commitment to Ghana’s football development.
Sulley Muntari of Hearts of Oak was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his illustrious career.
Franck Kessie of AC Milan was voted Serie A Player of the Year for his role in the Rossoneri’s first league title since 2011.
Andre Ayew of the Black Stars took up the night’s most prestigious prize, the Order of the Star Award, at the Kempinski Hotel.
After receiving the trophy, the U-20 World Cup winner expressed his gratitude and expressed his wish that it would serve as an encouragement to all young footballers in the country to work hard and achieve their goals.
Apart from the awards and dinner, Oliver Arthur showcased his top recruits, including Salim Abubakar (Sassuolo), Ahmed Awuah (Parma), Sulemana Kakari (Hellas Verona), Ebenezer Annan (Bologna), Herbert Ansah (Torino), and Felix Afena-Gyan (AS Roma), and urged people to support his vision of using football to help change people’s lives for a great Ghana.
