体坛英语新闻：Ghana national soccer team to receive state honors

ACCRA, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- State of honor will be conferred here on Friday for the senior national men's soccer team, nicknamed the Black Stars, in recognition of their sterling performance at last year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Deputy Minister of Information Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the investiture ceremony would be conferred on the team as well as 46 other distinguished persons by president John Evans Atta Mills.

The illustrious Ghanaians to be decorated included elder statesman Harry Sawyerr and speaker of parliament Joyce Bamford Addo.

The national under-20 men's soccer team, the Black Satellites that won the world youth tournament in Egypt in 2009, will also be decorated.

Ghana was the only side out of Africa's six representatives to survive the group stage at the 2010 World Cup finals.

President Mills, as part of Ghana's 51st Republic day celebrations, made the announcement to honor the players for lifting the flag of the country as well as Africa high during the tournament.

Each of the Black Stars is expected to receive the Companion of the Order of the Volta for reaching the quarterfinals in South Africa while the technical and management teams of the Black Stars would take the Grand Medal awards.