Sports
Dangerous times as league draws nearer to end
• Referees Manager, Alex Kotey, has a lot of work to do
Grave concerns have been raised about officiating in the ongoing betPawa Ghana Premier League (GPL). But for a negligible few, performance of most of the game’s officials have been barely satisfactory.
This is dangerous, to say the least – as it militates against the advancement of our football.
Frustratingly, recently, a section of fans sympathetic to Asante Kotoko, made a trip down to the deity Antoa in the Ashanti region to place a curse on referees who would attempt to cheat their club – the defending league champions.
The Antoa is believed to be a river God known as Antoa Nyamaa. It is a shrine harboured in a small stream called Asuo Nyamaa. Sources say Antoa Nyamaa is a very powerful deity and the people in the Ashanti region often use it to seek answers to their problems.
Clearly, it may not be the way to go. Fans must not vent their spleen, frustrations and disappointments in this manner. There could be other means to seek justice.
But this is what usually happens when clubs – with passionately ardent following, are subjected to openly-biased officiating and painfully robbed.
Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, has conceded that officiating is a key challenge in the league, describing performance of referees as not the best and therefore needs great attention.
“There have been a few issues as usual and officiating is at the centre stage. There have even been issues in Division One, so it’s very critical. We will pay much attention to that,” he told Max FM recently.
So contentious – and sometimes horrible were some of the calls to the extent that some supporters opined that the GFA was behind it. But Asante disagreed.
“There are situations where we all know the referee’s performance is not at the level we want it to be, but for someone to think that the FA manipulates referees to cheat a particular team is unfortunate; and there is nothing like that.”
If that is the case, it behoves on the Football Association to take the bull by the horn and ensure that referees do a good job as the league enters into the home stretch.
After this weekend’s cagey-tight engagements, we have just six games to roll down the curtain on the season with the title up for grabs – whilst as many as seven clubs including Accra Great Olympics, Karela United, Tamale United, Nsoatreman and Dreams FC are all in grave danger of visiting the drop because of the tiny points difference from the rear.
The summit is astoundingly interesting as well, with as many as four clubs (leaders Aduana Stars, Medeama SC, Asante Kotoko, Bechem United and Hearts of Oak, all capable of annexing the diadem.
What this means is that, if for nothing at all, the final few games of the campaign would be contested with ruthless intensity and one can only hope a level-playing field is put in place for the battle.
The FA must, therefore, do well to ensure that only the best is reserved for last. The league has come under a landslide of attacks and this is not the best advertisement for our game that is begging for more sponsors to give some comfort to the players.
Around this time of the season, we know many club owners and officials try to manipulate the game by bribing referees who, most often than not, fall prey to their gambits. It is no secret. It must be stopped to salvage what is left of our dwindling football.
GFA’s Referees Manager, Alex Kotey, and his lieutenants must up their game and present fans with unblemished ‘Knights of the Whistle’ whose performance should leave a beautiful lasting impression on the minds of all.
When chosen, these men on the field must endeavour to be impartially fair, firm and even-handed. That is the only way many can have confidence in the system.
By John Vigah
Sports
GFA, SWAG discuss devt of Ghana football
The Ghana Football Association, led by its President, Mr Kurt Okraku, has called on the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) as part of efforts to strengthen the corporate bond between the two institutions.
The delegation, made up of some executive members and regional football heads, were warmly received by the leadership of SWAG.
Mr Okraku in his speech said the visit was key following the new path the GFA was taking to revive the football fraternity, and to officially present himself after being elected as an Executive Member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
He stated that SWAG, with over 1,000 members, had been at the forefront in promoting Ghana sports, hence the need to work together in achieving its target.
The President urged the leadership of SWAG to continue its task of ensuring members keep some level of credibility and fairness during their reportage.
He said adequate preparations had been made to ensure the Black Stars put up a good show in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
“We’ve spoken to the team, and they have assured us they are ready for the game.” Stephen Appiah, who is the Vice Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee has confirmed, adding that “Otto Addo and the rest of the team have also assured wins in the two games.”
Responding, Mr Kwabena Yeboah, President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana, thanked the delegation for the long-lasting relationship with SWAG which he described as being fruitful.
“We have one agenda and that is to develop football. Even Though we have not fared well in recent times, I believe the football association still has some plans laid down and that is what we are seeing today,” he noted.
He congratulated Mr Kurt Okraku on his new role as an executive member of CAF, reiterating his hard work over the years.
The GFA President’s election to the CAF Executive Committee comes as recognition of his remarkable leadership, serving as the sixth Ghanaian to achieve that height.
He said despite this success; the poor performance of the Black Stars had written off the good works of his administration as President of the football body.
Mr Kwabena Yeboah assured the Ghana Football Association of SWAG’s commitment to keep high level professionalism in its dealings.
He thanked the delegation and urged them to call on the association for help anytime.
Sports
Okraku’s rise to CAF ExCo
The rise of Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Okraku, may come as a sucker punch to many of his critics in Ghana especially.
For those critics, nothing good can be identified with his administration. It has been stretched to the extent that any negative occurrence in the game is quickly attributed to him or his administration.
In fact, Kurt Okraku’s name in some quarters has become the definition of any negative occurrence in the game in Ghana.
However, it beats the imagination of all how such a person, who is often the most criticised, maybe apart from government officials, continue to earn international recognition.
The Black Stars have failed to shine; climaxing that catastrophe with a failure to qualify for the next edition of AFCON. The other national teams have all struggled under him.
For this reason he has been chastised.
But in the face of these failures, Kurt Okraku was elevated to an Executive Member position at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at its congress held recently.
One would then ask the obvious question whether it is the case of a dislike for him that has shrouded the efforts he is putting in to develop the game in Ghana.
In a rare encounter with him recently, one of the questions I asked was why is he criticised on daily basis for the work he’s doing?
But his response was quite instructive.
Drawing an analogy from good old book – Bible, he practically preached to me about the story of the Lord Jesus Christ who was not accepted in his own home but was accepted outside his jurisdiction.
“My brother, I have no idea why people criticise me that much. They may have their reasons for doing that but I look beyond them. Even our Lord Jesus was despised by his own people. I am focused on doing the best for Ghana football. Maybe, if I don’t get the recognition today, a future generation may recognise my effort,” he said.
He may be true in a certain sense. Many times, people do not treasure the good things they have until they lose it. This is very common in many facets of life.
Irrespective of where one stands, his elevation to the high office of a CAF Executive Member is one Ghanaians cannot intentionally ignore.
Mr Okraku is the sixth Ghanaian to be occupying that office and faces the challenges of keeping the flag of Ghana high and improve the image built for the country by his predecessors.
Perhaps the efforts at the WAFU Zone ‘B’ level were so minute that it escaped the lenses of his critics but obviously, a top post at CAF is too big to be ignored.
He deserves the commendations of every Ghanaian. What he needs is the support of all but that is not to suggest that he has grown about criticism. Ayekoo Mr Okraku!
By Andrew Nortey
