By Ken Bediako
It appears most of the so-called football people have a strange interpretation of what interference means when it comes to their dealings with the government. This is the impression I formed following the recent GTV sports programme featuring four former GFA bosses.
Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe in particular seemed to be obsessed with this much trumpeted interference mantra, explaining his sudden quit as GFA head in 2005 was due to interference by the then Minister in charge of sports Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo.
It was however gratifying to note all the other three former GFA kingpins Nana Brew Butler, Alhaji Jawula and Kwasi Nyantakyi all emphasised the massive financial contribution and provision of infrastructure by government should be appreciated as cooperation to boost sports in general for the national good.
Nana Butler for instance emphasised that with his background as a businessman, he appreciated government efforts to finance football promotion and sports in general. For that matter, he felt if clubs were run on real business lines like we have in Europe, the Americas and some African countries like Egypt and South Africa, the nation can always have solid national teams particularly the Black Stars.
Alhaji Jawula supported Nana Butlers observations. So was Kwasi Nyantakyi who said categorically there was no way the government would shy away from the GFA since it has a national social obligation to make the fame of football tick.
Indeed, he praised the government for constructing AstroTurf pitches throughout the country that would be a breeding ground for talent hunting. He even suggested if possible housing facilities should be attached to the training grounds so we can have some mini academies.
It appears the old colts system by volunteers is fast giving way to the academy and they should be given national recognition and support.
All the former GFA chairmen appeared to be satisfied with the work they did during their tenure and expressed confidence the future could be bright once more for Ghana Football if there was trust and cooperation between the government and the Football Association (FA) as envisaged by FIFA.
Much as FIFA wants the FAs to promote the game to “the exclusion of all others ” there should not be anything like complete autonomy by the FA. Football has become such a national passion worldwide that no government will sit down unconcerned to allow a few individuals to toy with such a national pastime that has a lot of political ramifications.
It is true that in the not too recent past some politicians, especially in the developing countries were disrupting the smooth administration of the sport Football officials serving on international bodies on account of their positions could be dismissed without notice.
In Ghana, I can recall the case of then GFA chairman Nana Fredua Mensah attending CAF executive meeting in Cairo in 1968 and simultaneously being dismissed at home without his knowledge. I think Sam Okyere, GFA chair in 1987 also suffered similar fate. It’s to avoid such needless confusions that the FIFA called for cooperation between governments and FAs.
As Kwasi Nyantakyi pointed out no FA in our current situation can operate successfully without government support. All the talk about interference may depend on the personal traits of a substantive Minister for sports but the FA heads must be able to be accommodating enough to achieve unity of purpose.
One thing that tickled me was the disclosure by all the four former GFA heads about some wolves among the football people who are always determined not to see anything good in any FA President. Ah well as a local proverb puts it “the ant that will bite you may come from your own cloth”.
Current President Kurt Okraku could not make it to the programme to confirm or deny whether he is being haunted by the so-called wolves around. It is hoped he would be around if the TV programme organisers can arrange a second round.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on the upcoming World Cup qualifier between the Black Stars and the super Green Eagles of Nigeria at Cape Coast on March 24. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a crucial match and a real test for our football administrators to make amends after the disastrous AFCON show.
After the Milo flop the FA had been bold enough to assemble a crack team of five technicians led by Otto Addo of Hamburg fame with Houston of Tottenham Spurs fame as advisor. Three experienced locals, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, Dramani, Maxwell Konadu and George Boateng, complete the technical bench. Already, the traditional arm chair critics complain the bench is too heavy. I plead let’s give them a breather as I suspect it is a crash effort to try and surmount the Nigerian hurdle. Let’s pray all goes well so we can sit down and plan seriously for the next AFCON, African Games and World Cup 2026.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
