Sports
Pushing for greater visibility for Ghana football
New Ghana Premier League champions, Samartex
Football is more than just a sport.
In Ghana, the love and passion for football is undeniable. Without doubt, it is the most prominent sport in the country. Football development is crucial for the nation’s progress because it has the capacity to boosts the various local economies.
It is for this reason that institutions in society, especially the media must play active roles in its development and promotion in Ghana.
In the early days of Ghanaian football, newspapers such as the Gold Coast Gazette, Commercial Intelligencer, and The Accra Herald extensively covered local matches and players, and many others to boost the players’ profiles.
As football’s popularity surged, coverage expanded with papers like the Daily Graphic, The Ghanaian Times, and Ghana Sports featuring match reports, player profiles, and analyses, which provided a platform for local talent to shine.
However, examining the current state of local football in Ghana’s media landscape reveals a decline in coverage. This underrepresentation negatively impacts the already struggling local football in Ghana.
First and foremost, the lack of media attention discourages young talents because it would be difficult for them to be noticed by coaches and agents.
In an interview with Joshua, a division three player at Play like a Pro Academy, revealed that playing football in Ghana was not easy and local players face several obstacles.
He said, “One of the biggest challenges is that we don’t get recognised. We play well, but no one knows about it.”
Also, Giovanni Frank Gyan, a 25-year old professional footballer who currently plays for the Future Soccer Academy, underscored the importance of media coverage in marketing their skills.
He said it was unfortunate the Ghanaian media was focused on promoting foreign football stars instead of the local talents, explaining that while they look up to foreign players as role models, the local media should focus more on promoting young and upcoming footballers like himself.
The impact extends beyond players, affecting numerous local coaches as well. These coaches, who are key stakeholders in the industry and play a crucial role in nurturing talent for the sport’s development, often become discouraged from continuing their careers because their efforts are insufficiently recognised by the Ghanaian media.
The current state of local football coverage calls for immediate and concerted action.
‘Professor’ Enock Kwesi Wallace, Head of Sports at Adom FM and a seasoned Sports Journalist with Asempa FM, shared this view on the challenges facing local football and the measures necessary to promote its reportage in Ghana.
According to him, the media’s selection of football stories is guided by journalism ethics and values, prominence, proximity, and national issues.
Prof. Wallace further emphasised that the media is a commercial entity that attracts sponsors, and added that it is not their responsibility to seek sponsors for local sports men and women.
Instead, he suggested that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and local teams should make themselves more accessible; utilise various stakeholders; advertise; and implement e-ticketing to promote themselves.
To increase visibility and accessibility, Mr Wallace further proposed partnership with churches, as seen in Nigeria and Congo Brazzaville, where football clubs were established by churches. This innovative approach, he said, can bridge the gap between local sports and the community.
In essence, promoting local football requires a collective effort from all stakeholders; the media, GFA and sponsors. These stakeholders must work together to give local football teams the recognition they deserve.
In conclusion, the underrepresentation of local football in the media poses a significant national concern that demands urgent action. Therefore, the media must assume the essential responsibility of delivering regular, thorough, and captivating football coverage. It is crucial for all stakeholders to unite in backing our local football talents, ensuring that the sport flourishes for future generations.
*The author is a student of the University of Media, Arts and Communication- Institute of Journalism (UniMAC-IJ) Faculty of Journalism and Media Studies.
Email: a.augustina020@gmail.com
By Augustina Dede Anang
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
