Sports
Getting ready for domestic football
There is something in the air. There is football in the skies. It is domestic football.
In the next few days, starting specifically on November 13, next week, local football will gush out from the feet of more than 180 players across the fields – all-too ready to feed an intensely starved local football contingent.
As you may have been aware, the government placed a ban on domestic football in March, this year, in the heat of the COVID-19 fatal outbreak – ultimately leading to the cancellation of the 2019/2020 season.
Ghanaians were utterly disappointed that their football had been frozen, but they had absolutely no choice. There was only a Hobson’s choice.
As a matter of fact, the Premier League was at the Match-Week 15 stage when it was suspended. All other national football competitions, including the men’s FA Cup, women’s Premier League and FA Cup competitions, second tier and third tier championships all similarly came to a halt.
Heartily, after seven prickly months in the ‘Covid-doldrums,’ the government on September 20 lifted the ban on contact sports including football, paving way for return of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).
As a safety measure, we were told fans were not going to be allowed to attend training sessions of their pet clubs. So far, that directive has been rudely flouted as fans have stormed club’s training grounds in their good numbers with government looking on, totally befuddled.
Per the directive, too, the stadia will be open to fans when the top flight commences, but only up to 25 per cent of a facility’s capacity. It would really be interesting to see how that order is stuck when it comes to the ‘Himalayan’ clash between sworn rivals – Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.
These are issues that we ought to be profoundly concerned about as the league resumes next week; for we as a nation, cannot afford to roll back the clock of progress chalked in the fight against Covid-19. Truth is that, we are still in the woods and must not play games with the fatal epidemic that has claimed tens of thousands of lives across the world.
Having said that, it is admirable how the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has worked towards the resumption of the domestic game.
We have seen a lot of measures put in place by the FA including the COVID-19 testing of players and technical teams of Premier League clubs that started last week. Indeed, the testing of players and officials – a coalition between the GFA and the Government Covid-19 Task Force, according to the FA, is part of efforts being made to ensure that football is played in the safest possible way.
Delectably, we have also seen some refresher courses organised by the FA for the ‘Knights of the Whistle’ and workshop for Match Commissioners, venue media officers among others.
Speaking at one of its workshops, FA General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, said the work of Match Commissioners was very important to the success of the competitions, hammering profusely on integrity of the game.
“Any Match Official who violates the ethical principles of the Association would be axed from the game under the “No Contact” and “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” Policies of the Association,” he said reassuringly.
That is the way to go.
Perhaps, the most alluring news for the Premier League ahead of the start was the capture of Ghana international Asamoah Gyan by Legon Cities, after signing a one-year contract. Truth is, Gyan – Africa’s top-most scorer in World Cup history, has added a lot of glamour to the premiership.
It is widely reported that he will pocket US$1million over the next four years with his annual returns standing at U$250,000. That is as attention-grabbing as motivating to the nation’s domestic football.
We cannot wait to see him in his famous No. 3 shirt!
PlainTalk With John Vigah
Attention will be at the Golden City Park in Berekum tomorrow as Hearts of Oak lock horns with Berekum Chelsea FC in a Ghana Premier League Matchday 6 game that promises an electrifying atmosphere.
Lying sixth on the league table with two wins and three draws, the Phobians visit a ground that has been favourable to them in recent times. In their last three visits to the Golden City Park, Hearts have amassed seven out of nine points, putting them in strong contention to win.
Head Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani says, “The team is making progress in its tactical identity despite the lack of goals, and this is something we are working on ahead of this game.”
Hearts will come face-to-face with former coach Samuel Boadu, whose side lies a distant 13th on the league table with a win and a draw from four games. Coach Boadu is yet to celebrate a victory over the Phobians since joining the Berekum lads and would hope this fixture marks a turnaround.
Ninth-placed Vision FC would trek to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem to play Bechem United, while new boys Hohoe United host Aduana FC at the Hohoe Sports Stadium.
Returnees Swedru All Blacks will welcome Basake Holy Stars to the Swedru Sports Stadium, with defending league champions Bibiani Gold Stars staying put at their backyard, the Dun’s Park, to welcome second-placed Heart of Lions FC on Monday.
Today at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa, Medeama SC will clash with Samartex FC in a Western derby. Other games scheduled for today would see Eleven Wonders FC host Karela United at the Swedru Sports Stadium, while Dreams FC face Nations FC at the Tuba Astro Turf.
By Raymond Ackumey
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Ghana coach Otto Addo may not command the kind of fear and respect like Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique and others in the modern game, but in his small corner, he is gradually climbing the ladder to greatness in Ghana, Africa and the world at large.
The aforementioned coaches attained greatness with club sides and, therefore, open an argument over whether one is not comparing apples to oranges. But no matter how one looks at it, they are all coaches harbouring similar ambitions to attain greatness in their fields.
Otto Addo is one of the young and upcoming coaches holding a lot of promise and was getting experience with his association with Borussia Dortmund in Germany until his path was directed by a Ghana call.
Although he was born in Germany, Otto Addo’s association with Ghana football dates back to 1999, spanning a period of about seven years; commencing with a 5–0 rout of Eritrea on February 28. He gained international prominence when he joined the squad for the 2000 African Cup of Nations. He featured as a midfielder in the team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
But like it’s often said, a prophet is not recognised in his own home and his efforts partially went unnoticed. He’ll go into the annals as one of the Black Stars coaches to have been fairly or otherwise criticised not just by ‘football people’ but fans who doubted him.
His sack has been discussed at various platforms by people whose knowledge and tactical acumen about the game remains questionable. Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, at one point openly stated his doubts over Otto Addo’s ability to actually deliver.
No coach would feel secured in such turbulent times, but coach Otto Addo kept his calm and composure. On the corridors of his employers, however, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku, openly rallied support for him, though a few ‘doubting Thomases’ still questioned his credentials.
That painted a picture of a people that forget easily and are quick to crucify. In a brief moment of adversity, Ghanaians forgot how Otto Addo was brought in to pluck qualification for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup from the jaws of the Super Eagles of Nigeria with a solitary goal over two legs.
The upshot of that feat was not one any Nigerian would want to remember. The scenes after the match were awfully chaotic, as fans vented their anger on facilities at the stadium. Back in Ghana, it was partying all night and day.
Otto Addo was labeled the football magician. He achieved something no Ghanaian coach had ever accomplished; a feat which Ghana with her all-time best teams could not attain. That was the climax to which Otto Addo took Ghana football, generating calls to start believing in the Ghanaian coach.
Following that to the World Cup proper was another story altogether. It was, or may have been, our poorest show at any of the four World Cup appearances. And just as it was stipulated in his contract, he bowed out after the Qatar World Cup to mind his Borussia Dortmund business with peace.
But as fate would have it, nature found a way to renew his romance with Ghana football after an unconvincing start to the America, Canada and Mexico dream World Cup under special advisor turned coach, Chris Hughton.
Ghana started the qualifiers on a winning note but not a convincing performance. It was saved by an Inaki Williams goal scored on the sixth minute of additional time against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The Black Stars then slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the Stade de Moroni to Comoros to heighten calls for a new technical direction.
Then stepped in Otto Addo when Ghana occupied the fourth position in Group I with three points but with the countries in the group evenly matched.
By Andrew Nortey
