By Ken Bediako
Ghanaian international Evangelist Rev Dr Lawrence Tetteh has a programme entitled “this nonsense must stop”. I have not been able to attend any of his programmes but I must admit I am really tickled by the title of his programme.
I don’t know which nonsense he is referring to but all sincere Ghanaians should be aware of the huge nonsense gaining grounds in the Ghanaian society.
From wild politics to the general carefree and often times careless attitude of citizens towards state properties, reckless and unruly commercial drivers, filth in public places like our markets, and lorry stations, indisciplined, disrespectful youth, large number of, loud-mouthed self-styled social media journalists with little or no regard for finesse etc, etc. The list is long but I am currently more concerned with the nonsense on the sporting scene particularly football at the national level.
Fortunately, the recent African Games have shown that with some more seriousness and commitment Ghana can excel in a lot of sports disciplines. We only have to get the right type of genuinely dedicated, less money conscious sports administrators whose priority will be the welfare of the sportsmen and sportswomen and all will be well. Ghana will once more be tops in sports like we won Olympic boxing silver, three years after Independence at the Rome Olympics in 1960, courtesy Ike Quartey. Admittedly modern sports facilities have been in short supply of late but thanks to the African Games the nation can easily boast of modern facilities and host several kinds of sports disciplines at the moment. For a start, Schools and colleges sports must be revived doubly quick, the Security Services Games should also follow suit, so is the well programmed Ghana-Ivory Games which were organised successfully for nearly a decade. Also we used to have National Day Games
where regional teams were assembled by the various regional sports organisers in various sports disciplines. The novelty was that participants represented their places of origin and it was a real added attraction. Simply put you compete for a team where you hail from no matter your present abode. For example, my bosom colleague journalist Ebo Quansah could run the marathon for the Central Region since he hails from Ekumfi Ekrawfo and SWAG President Kwabena Yeboah will play Table Tennis for the Eastern Region since he is Okwahu born. They are both veteran sportsmen.
The National Day Games in question reminds me of a proposal by legendary football star Asamoah Gyan to organise what he calls All Regional Football tournament to hunt for talents. This is definitely a healthy exercise but I would suggest this should be an assignment for the Ghana Football Association.
The GFA should not only be interested in the welfare of the Black Stars but also take practical steps to unearth potential footballers. Asamoah Gyan could easily back the GFA with a sponsorship package for the organisation of the tournament which should be the prime responsibility of the football controlling body.
I deem it a shirk of responsibility to allow a private individual to think of such a major national event which is so much demanding.
It’s quite similar to the GFA’s now forgotten grandiose plan to set a company to run the Premier League which is rather unexpectedly producing intriguing Results. The giants are falling and new stars emerging. The news is that fabulous Kumasi Asante Kotoko, arguably the best supported football club in the country, twice Africa champions, named Club of the Century by reputed football statisticians, are now a pale shadow of the famous Porcupine Warriors of Ghana football.
The 24-time league champions of Ghana have performed so abysmally in the ongoing 2023-24 tournament setting an unenviable club record of seven continuous losses in the second round of the league.
Indeed, Kotoko have collected only one point from a possible 21 points tally in seven matches played in the second round. Heart of Lions set the pace with 1-0 win in Kumasi, followed by Karela United 1-0, Accra Lions 3-2, Aduana Stars 2-1: Nations FC 1-0: Nsoatreman 1-0; Dreams FC 2-0. The only draw was against Bechem United at Bechem.
The wonder is Kotoko did so well in the first round to occupy a well-deserved second position. The sudden slump in the second round this season is the club’s worst in the history of the league since its inception in 1958.
The 11th defeat so far this season is the worst record since 2000 when their 10 defeats placed them in the 4th position behind Accra Hearts of Oak, Goldfields and King Faisal on 57, 52, 46 and 43 points respectively.
In 1999, Kotoko lost nine matches and placed 4th behind Hearts, Cape Coast Dwarfs and RTU in that order. The points were 57, 52, 46, 43 in that order.
Kotoko suffered eight defeats in 2001 and placed second to Hearts bagging 55 points to Hearts’ 64.
The puzzle is how the Porcupine Warriors can fizzle out so suddenly in the second round after such an encouraging start.
All kinds of theories are being offered and the huge number of vociferous supporters want the coach to take the blame. Keen observers however feel the players lack motivation and imagination.
This appears to be a rather mysterious and delicate issue which needs the personal intervention of the club’s spiritual leader Otumfuo the Asantehene himself.
A pep talk with the players at Manhyia may do the trick. The Otumfuo is celebrating his 25th anniversary on the Golden Stool in a few weeks’ time and definitely a brilliant performance in the league by the Kum apem boys will brighten the atmosphere for a great celebration at Oseikrom.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
