Sports
President Kurt E.S Okraku closes FIFA Club Professionalisation and Management workshop
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has urged Premier League Club representatives to apply the knowledge gained from the FIFA Club Professionalisation and Management workshop, which concluded on Wednesday March 5, 2025.
The President made the remarks when he closed the two-day workshop, organised for top Ghana Premier League Executives and supported by the world governing body, FIFA, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence (GSCE) in Prampram.
President Simeon-Okraku also expressed his gratitude to FIFA for supporting the Football Association’s efforts to enhance football development, while urging the club representatives to apply the knowledge gained from the workshop to foster sustainable growth within their teams.
‘I remember when all of you here offered me the chance to lead in 2019, I paid a visit to Zurich and I met President Gianni (Infantino). One of the foremost topics I picked up with him was ways of empowering Africa by way of knowledge and education-sharing. Because I truly, truly thought, and I still think, that it is a key need area for us in Africa,” President Okraku said
“Some of us are blessed to have had a chance to go and study football. But we need more people to have the right level of skill sets to be able to deliver football the way it has to be delivered. So bringing this training to our doorstep, in my opinion, is a blessing. And I will not only say thank you again to FIFA, but I will definitely ask for more.
“Because knowledge exchange should always be timeless. Seeking knowledge should be a key part of our journey in this industry. And I believe that every club right here would want not only to exchange, but also to learn. Therefore, I would always say, FIFA, bring us more. Bring us more of such opportunities so that we can close the gap. Because in the time past, many years ago, we never had so many niche areas in the management of football.”
The workshop aimed to improve the overall management and professional standards of the clubs by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills required for effective football administration.
The sessions focused on the latest trends in relation to club operations, stadium management, finance, marketing and communications, sporting strategy, governance, leadership and negotiation skills.
The GFA and FIFA hope to strengthen the administrative capabilities of Ghanaian football clubs, ultimately contributing to the long-term success and development of the sport in the country.
“This is what we need. Continuous exchange, continuous learning, continuous giving, continuous taking. And gradually, our football industry will be the industry that all of us have been yearning for. Without such spaces, such platforms, we will not get to the promised land. And I’m sure that between yesterday and today, you may have picked one of two new things.
“When we leave here, that should not be the end of our engagements. Let’s reach out to each others. Let’s cross-check what we have picked up here and add on. And by doing that, our clubs would improve. On behalf of the Executive Council, I thank you so much for accepting to be here. I pray that the almighty God will keep all of us together and together we would effect the changes in not only our clubs, but also the entire football family. Congratulations.” President Okraku applauded in his concluding remarks.
This initiative is part of the ongoing collaboration between the GFA and FIFA to professionalise football in Ghana and ensure that local clubs are equipped to compete at both domestic and international levels.
FIFA’s delegation is headed by Solomon Mudege, the Head of FIFA Development Programmes- Africa, Marcos Picallo Aguilar- FIFA Senior Professional Football Manager, and Development, Silmara Sousa – MA Regional Coordinator, FIFA Development Programmes.
FIFA Experience Instructor and Consultant Pedro Manuel Correia Miranda is the lead instructor for the programme.
From 4-5 March 2025, the workshop brought together two representatives from each of Ghana’s 18 premier division clubs.
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
