SWAG Calls for national crusade on soccer

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana has called for a national crusade to uplift the image of sports, particularly football, in the country and to ensure that the Black Stars of Ghana qualify to participate in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

In a statement issued in Accra, at the end of the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, SWAG said events that unfolded in the 31 days of football in the Far East, clearly demonstrate that sports, particularly football, is a very important tool in building a united cohesive nation.

?The unity of purpose with which all participating nations undertook the task sends a clear message that a well nurtured national policy on the game could bring about national unity and drive a nation towards its goal of uniting all its people,? the association said in its statement signed by SWAG President Ebo Quansah (in picture).

?We recall the general euphoria in Senegal and other African countries following the achievement of the Lions of Terenga in reaching the last eight of the World Cup and hope politicians, football administrators, sports writers and broadcasters as well as the general public will make conscious efforts to push the Black Stars to qualify for the 2006 world Cup.? The association asked the Government to endeavour to provide facilities and equipment to enable our footballers perform.

It challenged the Government to arrest the appalling nature of sporting infrastructure in the country and to commit itself towards the construction of the proposed National Olympic Complex in Accra.

?We acknowledge the fact that the state of the economy would not permit the provision of first class facilities that Korea and Japan, for instance, put at the disposal of the football world. But we consider the state of the broken down sporting infrastructure at places like Sekondi, Swedru, Tema, Koforidua, Nkawkaw, Tamale, etc, unacceptable and hope government will do something about them very soon.?

The SWAG welcomed the arrival of Milan Zivadinovic to take charge of the technical build-up of the Black Stars and hoped that the new coach will be given all the facilities to build a winsome Black Stars once more. ?However, we consider this appointment as only a preparatory grounds for a grand take-off. We believe sending a number of our young coaches and retired footballers out on coaching and refresher courses to empower them to take over the reign of coaching in all aspects of the game in this country, is the long term solution to the technical direction of the game.?

The association bemoaned the quality of coaching in the local game and asked the technical men and women to try and improve their lot.

The SWAG asked the GFA especially, to spare the country the many administrative blunders that in the immediate past militated against the Black Stars playing at the very top. ?We are particularly happy that the GFA has found it fit to kick against using over-aged players to seek for temporary gains in youth competitions.?

The GFA, as the official channel of progress in the Ghanaian game, should rid its secretariat of those who use the power of the FA for their personal monetary gains and thus retard the progress of the game in Ghana. The SWAG also had a word of caution for referees. It asked the Referees Association of Ghana and the Referees Committee of the FA to endeavour to improve the quality of refereeing in the country. ?We recommend a number of courses for our knights of the whistle. They have been disappointing of to say the least: one reason, we believe, accounted for not a single one of them being invited to officiate in the World Cup.? The local football scene is awash with rumours of referees being influenced day in and day out to favour the highest bidder. It is a very serious issue affecting the standard of the game itself. ?One hopes the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) will not allow itself to be used as a rag in the dusty corridors of Ghana football.

The association asked football clubs themselves to try and improve the way they are run. ?All premier division clubs are by FA statutes professional. That means they ought to be more business-like in their organisation. We are disappointed in noting that most premier clubs in the country do not have proper contracts with their players. A number of our clubs are still run by individuals who dispose of players and pocket the money without ploughing some of the transfer monies into the clubs? development.? The association noted with grave concern the very low standards being exhibited in the local premier league, which is the main supply route to the national teams. ?Our league is no more competitive not because the one or two clubs dominating have suddenly increased the tempo of their game. Most clubs in Ghana simply lack the resources to be competitive. And that is responsible for lack of improvement in our game.?

SWAG noted with concern the Government?s inability to implement the recommendations of the Sulley Gbadegbe Commission on Player Transfer and state without equivocation that the rampant transfer abuse in the country has its roots in the government?s paralysis in dealing with those implicated in the Gbadegbe Report.

The statement appealed to Ghanaian footballers to endeavour to improve their lots and to attach all importance to assignments involving the nation. ?You cannot attract international attention without first being noticed at home,? SWAG said. The association also had a word of caution for its own members and sports writers and commentators in general. ?We as sports writers and broadcaster should endeavour to detach our personal sentiments from the serious business of reporting and commenting on sporting issues. As members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, we owe it to our profession to be courageous and impartial.?