Essential to success in any human endeavor, sports not excluded, is effective planning, discipline and a commitment to excellence. Without these basic attributes one is likely to wallow in mediocrity or be considered an also-run. Achievements over the past year by the U-20 national team and the Black Stars have once again catapulted us into the limelight of prominence but with the propensity to creating a false impression that we have arrived, and all is well. However, microscopically assessing our progress over the past two-three decades our performance can best be described as undulating, and therefore imperative upon us all to put our hands on deck to ensure the demise of this cyclicity and the promotion of pragmatic measures for more sustainable outcomes. There are a plethora of issues bedeviling Ghana soccer and this article seeks to highlight some of the major concerns encompassing all stakeholders (GFA, coaches, players, fans etc.) and measures to curtail our inadequacies as well as relegate them into the bin of forgetfulness, and brace ourselves for more sustainable and preferred results. These issues, concerns and suggestions are not in themselves mutually exclusive and recondite in nature but points quintessential to a people committed to making meaningful inroads on their path to ascendancy and relevance.

Ghana Football Association (GFA) – Since the GFA is at the helm of soccer administration in the country I’ll like to start off with that organization. It is a natural phenomenon in life that whenever one is chastised, admonished or criticized he/she takes on a defensive posture and oftentimes misconstrue the meaning or spirit behind the action. There is no negative intent here and hope the GFA leadership will consider these criticisms and suggestions as thoughts from a concerned soccer fan willing to get off the sidelines and contribute towards the advancement of a worthy cause.

My first issue of concern with the GFA is the seeming lack of foresight and constant resort to adhoc measures in confronting looming danger. I envisaged a situation thirteen (13) years ago where our local league would become non-existent or irrelevant owing to the indiscriminate transfer of players under the watch of the GFA and today I have been vindicated. In the late 80’s to 90’s every Tom, Dick and Harry who could afford to purchase soccer boots and a few niceties conferred on themselves the status of agents/managers and preyed upon young soccer prospects who out of poverty and an insatiable quest for stardom were willing to go any and everywhere not named Ghana. It didn’t matter whether the destination was Afghanistan, Nicaragua or Bermuda insofar as they will be labeled as foreign players and increase their chances for selection into the Black Stars. To this end I wrote my bachelor’s degree dissertation on the topic “The impact of the mass exodus of Ghanaian soccer players on soccer development in Ghana” and personally handed over a copy to the GFA in which I outlined measures to curb the canker and solidify the local league, and present events only go to confirm that it was discarded or given no credence at all. Other factors notwithstanding, the fact that CAF has cut down on the number of Ghana’s participants in Continental Competitions is a serious indictment on our soccer development and depicts the low ebb to which the local league has sank.

Now that we are confronted with the situation the question remains: how can we get out of this quagmire? First the GFA should take a holistic approach to salvaging the image of Ghana soccer through concerted efforts at rebranding the product. This it can achieve in conjunction with the teams by seeking better sponsorships, improving soccer infrastructure throughout the country, working with radio and TV stations and advertising agencies in promoting games and creating some buzz about the local stars and the league as was in the days of the late Shamo Quaye (may his soul rest in perfect peace) and Joe Debrah, rejuvenating the Juvenile Colts League and Inter-Schools competitions, putting in place effective modalities for streamlining the transfer of players, and providing tangible incentives to those who excel such as the Best Player of the Year, Goal King, Best Defender etc. to serve as an impetus for others to stay and know that their efforts will be rewarded. I know some of these measures might infringe on certain liberties and border on legalities but I trust the GFA lawyers to put in place mechanisms to circumvent any legal ramifications. Putting the National Basketball Association (NBA) in juxtaposition they have been able to institute a policy in spite of the rampant and egregious lawsuits people normally file in the US to prevent High School players from going straight into the NBA irrespective of their skill set, prowess or age.

Local Teams – We live under a modern dispensation whereby professionalism and forward moving initiatives superceed eccentric ideas and ways of doing things. To quote Albert Einstein “insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results”. It’s high time the managements of teams inject true professionalism into their administrations, have proper player contracts in place with rights and responsibilities clearly enshrined, stop viewing their teams mainly as breeding grounds for enriching themselves through haphazard player transfers, support the formation of Youth teams or academies, and for heavens sake stop channeling resources and funds into all that “juju” nonsense. A former player of one of the top local teams once told me that during his playing days the team’s “ways and means” bill for the month was more than the monthly payroll of the entire playing body. Why?

On a lighter note, can the new and sprawling teams be a little innovative in coming up with some unique and interesting names pleasing to the ears. To engage in a little sarcasm I wouldn’t be surprised to see teams in the Premier Division in the next few years go by names such as Hohoe Barcelona, Konongo Real Madrid and Bolgatanga Monchengladbach (this is just for laughs).

Coaches – Has anyone wondered aloud why Ghanaian soccer coaches perform so creditably with the junior national teams but get lost in transition when it comes to the Black Stars? What accounts for this serious dichotomy? Is it because we use over-aged players as advertently or inadvertently alluded to by the GFA Chairman in a recent address? Methinks the answer lies in the fact that with the junior national teams the players are mostly home based and aspiring to ply their trade abroad thus are more prone to listen and learn. The issue with the Black Stars is that these coaches seem enamored and overawed by the status and celebrity of some, if not all, the players which results in a laxity in rules subsequently resulting in a breakdown in discipline and cohesion. If the coaches do not stoop so low as to continuously seek “freebies” from some of these stars and act with integrity and self esteem they will be able to get the necessary cooperation and environment conducive to success. This article isn’t aimed at “throwing any coach (es) under the bus” but some of the stories heard from some of my playmates ( I played on the Kaiser Babies team in the early 80’s with the likes of Joe Addo, Santrofi Acquah, Ezekiel Alamu, Ali Ibrahim, Bright Obeng etc. and later on Dansoman United with Yaw Sakyi, Chief Appiah, Stephen Amponsah etc. and others on opposing teams as Yaw Preko, Alex Nyarko, Ali Jaraah, Eugene Addo etc.) and their experiences could be described as downright despicable. Also until the Ghanaian coaches learn to remain resolute in their convictions and not avail themselves on the platform of susceptibility to coercion and influence by GFA and Government officials they will forever lose the battle on public opinion regarding choosing between local and foreign coaches for the Black Stars.

Referees – The role of referees as an integral part of the soccer development process cannot be overemphasized. Their actions and inactions play a great role in ensuring the integrity of the sport and promoting fair play. The referees need to do some serious soul searching to weed out any tendencies that will make them prone to receiving bribes thereby compromising games. The reputation of Ghanaian and African referees in general is quite disappointing and my humble plea to any referee or would be referee who is intent on pursuing that interest to enrich himself through bribery and connivance should hang his head in shame. Just as is the case with certain sensitive positions I’ll suggest that before one is appointed a referee he should undergo a thorough background check and also randomly during the tenure of his service.

Players – Do the players bear any culpability? An emphatic YES. Their progress have far reaching implications for soccer development and on the emotions of its teeming supporters. Most of the local players are so impatient to go abroad that they do not take the time to hone their skills, gain more experience and wait for better opportune times, and end up leaving and being tossed to and fro on 2nd, 3rd and 4th Division teams eventually evaporating into oblivion. Others end up being successful for a few years, become complacent and full of themselves forgetting the hunger and drive that got them there and in no time become washed out. Do the names Sebastian Barnes, Daniel Addo, Christian Sabah, Isaac Asare, Emmanuel Asare just to mention a few ring a bell? All these players had the football world at their fingertips and theirs to lose but due to a multiplicity of factors (lack of personal discipline, lackadaisical approach to training and being in form or shape, and misplaced priorities etc.) their talents, skills and potential fizzled into thin air, and wondering whatever it is they’re doing wherever they are. What baffles me the most is why the present crop of players do not take cues from the mistakes of their predecessors and apply themselves diligently unto wisdom. I understand that most of these players come from arguably poor homes and low educational backgrounds but this to me should rather spur them on into maximizing the opportunity granted them but lo and behold the contrary rears its head. Instead of taking a little time off to have some fun after seasons end and then plunging back into serious training to better their skills and improve their marketability and value they spend most of their vacation roaming the streets of Accra with their “adia manin daso minsaka” girls, go back to their foreign clubs out of shape and then the bottom starts falling off. Yes it’s good to have the houses and cars and enjoy the fruit of your labor but as people who have soccer as their only source of future sustenance that should not obnubilate or befog their focus on their livelihood and when the playing days are over then they can bask in their fortunes. One reason why Kobe Bryant (let me digress a little bit) is my favorite sportsman is his work ethic. In spite of all the fame, money and Championships he’s arguably the hardest working player in the NBA. Last season for instance when he realized that after 14 years in the league all the skills in his repertoire was almost known he humbled himself and sought the assistance of Hakeem Olajuwon on how to master the left hook shot and used it effectively to dazzle his opponents during the season. How many of our modern day stars go home and say seek the services of Mohammed Polo on the art of giving crisp, immaculate and defense-splitting passes or Thomas Hammond (Gambo – “1st in the Air”) on his aerial supremacy technique? If the Essien’s, Muntari’s, Mensah’s show the drive and commitment to lay it all on the line till remarkable feats are accomplished it will become infectious and consequently permeate the rank and file.

Fans/ Supporters – Ghanaian soccer fans are passionate and rightfully so since soccer is our favorite past time. We should channel our energies and efforts towards contributing to soccer development in Ghana rather than all acting as coaches and criticizing without providing solutions. We should sometimes exercise patience with the coaches and players because one sometimes has to go through the pangs of adversity in order to be fine tuned into a worthwhile product. I guess that probably explains why England in spite of its abysmal World Cup performance kept on to Fabio Capello.

On the other hand, soccer fans should spare me the thought of every defeat being a blessing in disguise from God because of the possible repercussions. When would we ever deserve something good? I was really beside myself after the World Cup loss to Uruguay when some highly educated friends of mine echoed the sentiments across a wide spectrum of supporters that it was good Ghana lost that game because people would have died in Ghana that day. Wow!!!! So Ghana should not strive to win the World Cup because a few people will throw caution to the wind and engage in excesses to their graves. I believe in the sanctity and preservation of life but for the fact that innocent people could lose their lives involuntarily I will rather Ghana win the World Cup and the few oafish people lose their lives due to their own wanton and untoward indiscretions than for Ghana to continue to mark time, and I remain unapologetic about it.

Hope other well meaning soccer fans will join me in this crusade to contribute meaningfully towards getting Ghana soccer on all wheels otherwise the foundation will give up on us thereby resulting in a great soccer tsunami that will take decades and generations to possibly recover from, if ever at all.

Carl Owusu-Barnes

(Maryland, USA)

Roscoli@hotmail.com.