Sports
Wake up, slumbering Ghana football!
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Meeting.jpg&description=Wake up, slumbering Ghana football!', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Meeting.jpg&description=Wake up, slumbering Ghana football!', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
• Kurt Okraku – GFA boss
Ghana football continues to become the butt of public ridicule day-by-day and this should be a matter of grave concern to the managers of our game.
For decades now, our national teams and clubs have played second fiddle to the rest of the continental game and we seem to be fine with the repulsive decomposition and disintegration.
It is sad!
Our talented local players continue to leave the scene in droves to other African countries in search of greener pastures; others to even neighbouring Togo, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Some, too, have found their future in countries that recovering or have just recovered from the ravages of war because of despicable remunerations.
Count the number of our players campaigning in the Sudan, Ethiopia and even Niger. Is it not pathetic?
We pay our players peanuts and they are all-too ready to jump onto the next bandwagon when the chance presents itself, leaving the domestic leagues poorer.
You cannot blame them. They deserve better!
Evidently, most of our stadia have had ‘ugly’ empty stands starring deep in the faces of the thinly-scattered fans around, because of the scarcity of quality players. Fans, naturally, will go to the stadia to watch quality football – and when they do not find what they want, they might turn attention to the lures of quality European football.
The Gullivers of Ghana football – Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak, have for a long time now struggled in Africa simply because they lacked the quality and capacity to rub shoulders with their more endowed competitors.
How can it be said that the last time Kotoko (once rated best) clinched an African glory (African Clubs Championships Cup) – the equivalent of the CAF Champions League, was in 1983 – 40 years ago? And, what of Hearts who last enjoyed continental glory (Confederation Cup) some 19 years ago, having won the CAF Champions League in 2000?
Again, how comfortable would you feel telling a young, dyed-in-the-wool follower of the Black Stars that the last time the senior national team conquered Africa was in Libya, 1982 – 41 years back? The slump is frustratingly unacceptable!
After all these years of disappointments and awfulness, stakeholders should be thinking of organising an emergency meeting to brainstorm on the way-forward of our football. Fact is that our football is almost in a comatose.
And, it is the reason hundreds of Ghanaians took to social media and condemned proposals by some unidentified group of people calling for an extension of the tenure of the GFA president Kurt Okraku, whose first term of office ends this year. The FA boss is eligible to run fora a second term. If he wins, he stays.
However, that should never dominate our conversation now. We must redirect our energies to the resurgence of our ailing game, and nothing else! The standards are flaking off with a flight, and it is a worry!
To think that we are not even considered among the Top 10 best leagues in Africa, should be disquieting enough to spark a serious revolution in our football.
As it is done in other countries, we must woo the government to make direct investment in the football leagues, with the FA ensuring the clubs are suitably structured in full compliance with the regulations on accountability and transparency.
Indeed, there are a lot of things we are not doing right and one hopes the recent chain of reverses would blow out that sense of entitlement we have erroneously flaunted around all this while.
We have slumbered for far too long and we got no option than to wake up now or never!
Accra Hearts of Oak and Dreams FC will headline Matchday 5 of the Ghana Premier League when the two sides meet at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium tomorrow, with both clubs seeking a result that could shape their early season campaign.
The encounter comes at a crucial moment for the two sides with the Phobians looking to recover from their first defeat of the campaign and Dreams still searching for their first victory after four matches.
The Rainbow lads started the season strongly but were beaten 1-0 by Karela United last weekend, while Dreams suffered a slim 1-0 defeat to Bechem United.
Hearts had earlier recorded impressive victories over Berekum Chelsea and Bibiani Gold Stars before drawing goalless with Bechem United, leaving the club with seven points from their opening four matches.
Their defeat at Karela United, however, means they will be under pressure to quickly return to winning ways against a Dreams side determined to make home advantage count.
Dreams, meanwhile, have endured a difficult beginning to the campaign and will see tomorrow’s fixture as an opportunity to change their fortunes.
The ‘Still Believe’ side have collected points from only their opening draws and are yet to register a victory, making the meeting with one of the country’s traditional giants an important test of their character.
Elsewhere, Vision FC will welcome Bibiani Gold Stars to the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex today, with both teams looking to strengthen their positions.
Vision have shown encouraging form in the early stages, while Gold Stars will be seeking a response after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to newcomers Port City FC.
At the Debibi Presby Park, newly promoted Debibi United will face defending champions Medeama SC tomorrow.
Medeama finally opened their account with a convincing 4-1 victory over Basake Holy Stars and will be hoping that the result marks the beginning of a stronger title defence.
Port City FC will continue their impressive debut campaign when they host Bechem United at the Daasebere Boamah Darko II Park.
Basake Holy Stars will attempt to recover from their heavy defeat to Medeama when they host Berekum Chelsea at the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena.
Aduana FC will welcome Swedru All Blacks to the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park after producing one of the weekend’s most notable results last Sunday.
At the Kpando Stadium, Heart of Lions will host FC AshantiGold ’04 in another meeting between sides coming off victories.
FC Samartex 1996 will meanwhile welcome Young Apostles FC to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena, with the home side seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 would go into the annals of Ghana football as one of the darkest days for the Black Stars.
In an AFCON 2027 qualifier against The Gambia, the Black Stars did not only break the hearts of the fans, but conceded a defeat that left followers with sleepless nights.
Coming from a Matchday 1 defeat to the Elephants of La Cote d’Ivoire in Bouake, the outcome of the second game against The Gambia was one that was non-negotiable.
It had the ability to spark a revival to contend for one of the slots for the next AFCON showpiece.
The Gambia is a formidable side but definitely, not one to have frustrated Ghanaians to watch in pain and awe the Black Stars lose a game from a winning position.
That is a possibility in the game of football but when the stakes are high in such cases, it becomes unacceptable to the fans.
And grievously has Carlos Queiroz answered the massive call for his resignation.
At his post-match press conference, he made it clear that bowing out was the easiest decision but insisted that would not solve the myriad problems facing the Black Stars.
For the coach to be fired two days after that declaration raises a lot of concerns as he seem to be aware of existing problems the FA may even not know.
Unfortunately, coaches over the years have always been sacrificial lambs in situations of this nature but when he talks about particular problems affecting the team, his sack leaves much to be desired.
That aside, it is important to also take another look at the country’s pool of players, both local and foreign based.
Some of us have been advocates for forming the Black Stars around the ever-present local players who may lack the skill, finesse and flamboyance believed to give the foreign based players the edge over their local counterparts.
The locals, however, compensate that with their commitment and dedication.
Sadly, it appears this consistent call have fallen on deaf ears and no one wants to give any attention to that.
If the fear is that results would be poor, then that would be no excuse again following outcomes of the Stars in their last two games.
From what was witnessed in Bouake and Accra, one can confidently boast that there isn’t much difference between the foreign based players and the locals.
If there is any, it would probably be the treatment given to the two sets of players.
The call on the FA now is to give major consideration to the local players. Any coach that sees no good in the local players must have no business handling the national team.
That does not also shut the door on the ‘foreigners’. We witnessed how the early 90s teams were beautifully blended to have a formidable team.
It is time the FA goes back to the basics. With the locals, there can be more camps, leading to improved cohesion. Any foreign based player invited must settle into the team quickly and make a difference. That is the only way to rescue the Black Stars from its free fall.
By Andrew Nortey
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
