Stars To Camp in USA?

America For What - Kojo Bonsu queries

One-Time Adidas representative, Mr Kojo Bonsu, has spoken against the decision by the GFA to pitch the Black Stars? camp in the United States in the build-up to the 2006 World Cup.

?America for what?? he questioned in an interview he said the decision was dangerous and could mar the preparations of the team for the tournament

?It looks like the people in the FA do not know what is going on in the world?, Mr Bonsu said. He wondered why the United States should be used as the training camp when majority of the players were in Europe.

Mr Bonsu said it would be appropriate for a training base to be selected in Europe, where majority of the players play, and moreso as the World Cup was to be played in Europe.

He pointed out that the European training camp would be easily accessible to the players who would be engaged in their European league.

?A training camp in Europe would ensure that the players train and go back to their clubs without any hindrance?, he said.

He reminded the FA that FIFA had specific periods within which players could be released from their clubs to the national teams.

This, he said, must be taken into consideration when planning training camps for the national team. Mr Bonsu also joined in the dissent generated by the reported decision of the FA to go for South Africa?s Danny Jordaan to assist in managing the Black Stars for the World Cup.

He said the denial by the FA General Secretary about the report in the Graphic Sports was only an attempt by the FA to escape the wrath of the people.

According to him,the FA came to the realisation that Ghanaians would not take kindly to any such move and consequently moved quickly to deny the story.

Mr Bonsu admitted that Mr Jordaan was a seasoned soccer administrator but said Ghana had a lot of capable soccer administrators who can play any role in moving the Black Stars World Cup campaign forward.

?What Jordaan has,Ghana has in abundance?,he said and therefore urged the FA to have faith in Ghanaians.

Meanwhile, at the time of going to press, Mr Fred Pappoe, chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, who was quoted in the story for favouring the camping in the USA, said his reference to the USA was in relation to the Black Stars playing a friendly match and not camping there as reported.