Sports
Akonnor, don’t be overly desperate!
DESPERATION to succeed may be adorable, but sometimes, it could trigger a negative adrenaline for failure.
In the case of the coach, they dare not play the Russian roulette; they got to be wholly focused, calculated and strategic in their manoevres to clinching the desired result. For, desperation can ultimately lead to destruction.
So, what are we trying to say, at all?
Somewhere last week or so, we were boldly told that the ‘sweat merchant’ of the Black Stars – Coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor, had handed a call-up to Kelvin Yeboah – a 21-year-old Italian-Ghanaian forward who features for Austrian Bundesliga side SK Sturm Graz.
The prolific Yeboah, nephew of Ghana’s retired icon Anthony Yeboah, is reported to be in some swashbuckling, smashing form in Europe – banging in goals like nobody’s business.
So, Ghanaians were naturally elated with the supposed ‘big catch’ when Yeboah’s name thundered across the country – believing Ghana was steadily building a formidably winsome team for a famished African conquest (Cameroon 2021). Fiasco!
Sadly, barely 24 hours or so later, we were almost stunned into petrified silence to learn that the same player had reacted positively to a call-up into the Italian Under-21 team over Ghana’s senior national team – a former FIFA World Cup quarter finalist.
The Italian Under-21 team were to play against neophytes like Luxembourg and Montenegro during the international break.
Indeed, many thought it was a huge embarrassment to the nation to watch Yeboah choose an Under-21 outfit over a senior national team of his native people.
But do not blame Yeboah! He has committed no crime. There are 64,000-dollar questions that have to be answered.
Question number one: How was Yeboah invited? Who spoke to him, and did the young precocious striker agree to the invitation? Why would he opt for the Italian U-21 national team when very aware that Ghana had struck the first move? What did we not do right in this regard? Did Akonnor really have a personal interaction with him ahead of the call-up? Or, we were just interested in giving Yeboah an invitation in order to avert Italy from initiating any move?
Whatever the response may be, it is limpidly evident that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Akonnor failed in snatching the talented finisher; and that is not good for the Black Stars brand.
Perhaps, we may not have lost Yeboah totally since he was not invited to Italy’s senior national side, but seriously, we ought to pick some harsh lessons in this regard.
The other day, too, we were told Ghana’s Southampton of England sturdy defender, Salifu Mohammed, was all-too ready to play for the Black Stars and was subsequently handed a call-up only for the player to turn his back on the nation.
Coach Akonnor himself had assured us of his availability, but we were later to dine with another disappointment.
It is true we need hordes of quality performers to build up the Black Stars into a fearsome unit. However, we must not out of desperation compel or cajole players into featuring for Ghana. No, it must not happen!
True, we may not have garnered home the African Cup ‘Holy Grail’ for nearly four decades – after the glories of 1963, ‘65, ‘78 and ‘82, but the senior national team is still freshly attractive.
No matter what the situation is or how it looks like, players – whether megastars or superstars, must not be kowtowed to in an attempt to woo them into playing for their own motherland.
They must play out of a supreme conviction to serve their country, and once they decline, we should respect their decision and leave them to their fate.
By so doing, we will succeed into erecting an aura of respect and reverence around the team whose members would now feel more nationalistic and be prepared to die a little more for a country that holds them in high esteem.
Sports
Sports Ministry, PGA Ghana to roll out ‘Golf-in-School’ programme
The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, says his sector is ready to leverage golf as a tool for sports development and environmental consciousness in the country.
In his view, a sport like golf must be given the needed attention because of its potential to enhance development and boost economic benefits to the youth.
Mr Adams gave the remark when he received a delegation from the Professional Golfers Association (PGA), Ghana.
The team was led by its president, Mr Hans De Beer and accompanied by other top officials.
At the heart of the meeting was a shared commitment to reposition golf, most importantly professional golf as a powerful tool not only for sporting excellence but also for promoting ecological awareness and social inclusion.
Mr Adams acknowledged the current collaboration between the ministry and the PGA and acknowledged PGA’s recognition of the Ministry’s support for both amateur and professional golf in Ghana.
He stated that sports development cannot thrive in isolation and requires strong partnerships, visionary planning, and collective action, emphasising the importance of golf in promoting discipline, strategy, and respect for nature.
According to the Sports Minister, every golfer becomes an advocate for the environment, adding that “it is time to introduce golf in schools. This initiative would nurture young minds to value green spaces while embracing a sport that has enormous potential for tourism, health, and character development.”
He assured the PGA team that their collaboration would move beyond dialogue into action, with plans to develop golf-in-schools programmes, roll out climate-awareness campaigns, and engage communities across regions in growing the game.
That vision, he said aligns with the country’s efforts to promote sustainable development and environmental conservation.
“By introducing golf-in-schools, it would instill values of discipline, hard work, and respect for nature in young people. The planned golf-in-schools programmes would not only promote the sport but also provide opportunities for young people to develop important life skills,” Mr Adams who doubles as a Member of Parliament for the Buem Constituency stated.
Responding, Mr De Beer, expressed their gratitude for the sports Minister’s support and commitment to developing golf in Ghana and also welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the Ministry and contribute to the growth of the sport in the country.
The meeting marked the beginning of a long-term partnership between the Ministry and the PGA to strengthen golf in Ghana and build a legacy that connects sport with sustainability.
Other PGA executive members who were present at the meeting include: Alhaji Ahmed Padori, Vice President, Tournament Director, Eric Henaku, Assistant Tournament Director, Francis Torgah, Emos Kwablah a senior member and Secretary of the Ladies’ Professional Golfers of Ghana Mercy Werner
By Spectator Reporter
Sports
Neequaye’s GBA exit …What might have caused it?
AN announcement from the communication team of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) informing stakeholders about the resignation of its president, Mr Abraham Kotei Neequaye has got fans thinking.
The resignation in itself is not a big issue.
Fact is, under the current circumstances, it may seem the best decision by Mr Neequaye who has supervised the most tumultuous boxing era in Ghana.
That is not to suggest that previous leaders of the association were saints; however, the level of acrimony under this administration is unprecedented.
Lucky to have witnessed the era of Mr Nii Quaye Mensah, Mr Moses Foh-Amoaning, Mr Samir Captan, Mr Peter Zwennes; one can confidently say the scene has never been that electric.
But what exists now is nothing short of a life in the boxing ring.
Wednesday’s announcement of an indication to resign yesterday (Friday, June 27) also got a few tongues wiggling with the timing.
Seeming to have brave the odds to such a crucial time that the association was preparing for its Elective Congress to put in place a new executive team; and Neequaye himself sounding confident of retaining his seat for another term, only to drop his guard last minute clearly suggests that there is more beyond what the eye can see.
Evidently, there is fire on the GBA’s corridors of power.
He has cited personal reasons for the decision but that has also sent journalists on a wild goose chase, finding anything available that is related to boxing to connect.
It has also left the Pandora’s Box opened with all manner of reasons flying around the media space.
A section of the media have tried to link the decision to findings and recommendation by a ministerial committee formed to probe the circumstances under which a Nigerian boxer died in Ghana during a fight sanctioned by the GBA.
Others are of the opinion that the embattled GBA boss was only trying to face the realities of the time.
This has come from a school of thought that he has realised he stands no chance in the impending election due to the bad blood between him and a huge number of stakeholders of the sport.
A few have managed to introduce some political theatrics into the Neequaye resignation drama, citing tensions between him and some party big wigs including the Minister of Sports and Recreation.
These are interesting times for the boxing fraternity.
But it’s amazing how time flies and how a lot of things can change with time.
Four or so years ago when Mr Peter Zwennes decided to step down as GBA boss, Neequaye was deemed the Messiah to take the sport to a new level.
He gained the support of these stakeholders who have become sworn enemies and was able to win against some heavyweights including a former promoter, Mr Henry Manly Spain.
The coaches, promoters, boxers, referees and other identifiable groups sang his praise but how all of these changed in less than a year remains a mystery.
Just after a year, key members of his executives confided in friends about contesting their president who they claimed to be going ‘out of order.’
Aside the verbal exchanges, other issues have gone to court for interpretation but all these moves are yet to restore peace and sanity in the GBA.
Stakeholders planning to shock Neequaye at the polls may be left stunned by the decision to bow out at the 11th round.
It is the hope of all that the next elected president can restore the peace and unity the GBA enjoyed and bring the stakeholders together.
But, however one looks at it, the history of the GBA would be incomplete without the strides of Neequaye whose tenure replicated the Foh-Amoaning’s Mortein Boxing League with what came to be known as the Imax Boxing League which also came with its own stories and challenges to promoters.
By Andrew Nortey
