Sports
Dauda, apologise for your shameful howler! Don’t blame Ghanaians
When you hear the distressing statement: “Wonders will never end,” the speaker may have been racked by an uncomfortable stunning revelation.
Perhaps, in the same vein, one will be compared to borrow that disquieting phrase in response to a statement by former Black Stars goalkeeper Fatau Dauda that sought to blame Ghanaians for the Black Stars’ shambolic performance at the Brazil 2014 World Cup tournament.
He told Atinka TV that Ghanaians had to share in the blame for the let-down. How?
Hear him:”If you ask me that question, the best answer is that everyone – including Ghanaians must be blamed. Like I said, we all caused it because nothing happened among us (Players],”he said, proceeding to deny any fracas in the team’s camp.
“I didn’t see any fight among players, maybe it happened and I didn’t see. We never said they should pay us before honouring the final group match against Portugal,” he told Atinka TV last week.
Blue blistering barnacles! How on earth would you attribute the Stars’ not-up-to-scratch output to the fans – some of whom had fasted for the team to drive beyond the quarter final berth of South Africa 2010 – to make it to the last four.
Question is, what role did Ghanaians play in the Stars’ 1-2 loss to USA in the team’s opening game? In a post-match interview after the loss, did Coach Kwasi Appiah not say he rested his ‘killer players’ strategically because he wanted his opponents to run out of steam before introducing them? Did Ghanaians motivate that ham-fisted inept decision?
Now, after holding eventual winners Germany to that intriguingly pulsating 2-2 draw in the second group game, Ghana needed to defeat Portugal to qualify to the next round. But what happened? Dauda incredibly gifted Portugal’s poster-boy Cristiano Ronaldo a cheap goal – a howler that culminated in the Stars’ 2-1 loss – ultimately eliminating them from a tournament experts had tipped them to go far.
Indeed, none of Ghana’s players in the Brazil 2014 tournament have the moral justification to criticise anybody because they let down the nation fatally when so much was expected of them.
They demanded a $100,000 appearance fee; held the nation to ransom – and broke the nation’s heart even though they were handed the monies they requested before the crucial Portugal game.
That key players: Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng were fired from camp ahead of the final game was an indication of the fact that all was not well.
What, perhaps, Ghanaians want from Dauda is to render a grave apology for that fatal howler and not to apportion unnecessary blame on the clean-handed.
Good such characters are no more part of the present national team. They have seen their best, and we can only look forward!
Sports
Kurt E.S Okraku elected CAF Executive Committee member
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has been successfully elected as a member of the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The four-year term runs from 2025-2029.
The President, who was elected uncontested, joins the 24-member committee of the powerful body of the continent’s governing body.
Kurt Okraku’s election to the CAF Executive Committee comes as recognition of his remarkable leadership at the Football Association, where he has worked to rejuvenate Ghanaian football since taking office in 2019.
His efforts to enhance transparency, promote grassroots football, women’s football and focus on youth development have been well noted within the African football community.
With Ghana’s strong footballing tradition and legacy, the presence of the GFA boss on the CAF EXCO is seen as an opportunity to advance the interests of the country and help promote football development across Africa.
Mr. Okraku’s role will give Ghana a stronger voice in the decision-making processes that shape the future of football on the continent.
President Simeon-Okraku becomes the sixth Ghanaian to serve on the CAF Executive Committee in a list that includes Ohene Djan, Kobina Hagan, Nana Fredua Mensah, Samuel Okyere, and Kwesi Nyantakyi.
Sports
GFA concludes training of Club Safety and Security Officers and Regional Sports Security Officers
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has successfully concluded its training program for Club Safety and Security Officers (CSSOs) and Regional Sports Security Officers (RSSOs).
This comprehensive training, which took place from March 7 to March 10, 2025, aimed to throw more light on the enhance safety and security measures across Ghanaian football.
The training was conducted zonally, covering all 86 elite clubs and 16 regions. Participants were divided into three zones, with Zone 2 covering the Ashanti, Western, Western North, and Central Regions, and Zones 1 and 3 covering the remaining regions.
The training modules included:
Challenges of Safety and Security in Ghana: Identifying and addressing key safety and security concerns in Ghanaian football.
Roles of the Club Safety and Security Officer (CSSO) and collaboration with Regional Safety and Security Officers (RSSO): Defining the roles and responsibilities of CSSOs and RSSOs, and promoting effective collaboration between them.
Club Safety and Security Officer Checklist: Providing a comprehensive checklist for CSSOs to ensure that all safety and security protocols are in place.
Introduction to the Enhanced Safety and Security Protocols 2025: Introducing new safety and security protocols aimed at improving safety and security at match venues.
Practicum and scenario session: Providing hands-on training and scenario-based exercises to prepare participants for real-world safety and security challenges.
The training workshop was led by DCOP Lydia Donkor, Chairperson of the Security Committee. Others included Capt (Rtd) Nick Owusu, Vice Chairman of the Safety Committee, Julius Ben Emunah, Head of Competitions, John Ansah, Felix Bewu and Emmanuel Osei, members of the Safety and Security Committee.
This training is part of the GFA’s enhanced approach to ensuring improved safety and security at match venues across all competitions.
