A day with Sellas Tetevi Tetteh

Soccer fans and Ghanaians in the Germantown (Maryland USA) area were host to Ghana’s celebrated Coach Sellas Tetteh“Borbor”. Sellas was humble enough to answer a call of one of his boys, Evans, to travel all the way from Georgia to be with the guys at the Ambulance Park. After the morning training session a team member welcomed the coach to their training and told him his fellow country men are proud of him as a world cup winning coach who beat almighty Brazil with ten players. The coach responded by saying he was just happy to be where his country folks are and was ready to share ideas with them on the way forward for Ghana football. Another member of the team presented a token gift to the coach as a sign of appreciation for taking time off to come all the way from Atlanta to meet the group., He took pictures and engaged in lengthy conversation with the group.

The coach of the Amavubi stars admitted that he has a Herculean job in Rwanda in trying to steer their soccer on course. He asserted that with God on his side, things will work out. One thing he pointed out to the group is we need patience to see results. Most times people rush in taking certain decisions which do not help make progress.

When pressed to assess some coaches in Ghana, the celebrated coach made it blank that he does not assess his fellow coaches. He will rather share ideas with his fellow coaches to make the work easier for all.

He advised that those who want to go back home and invest in football to do so wholeheartedly and not half heartedly. He reinforced Alexander Pope’s wit “...drink deep or taste not”. When asked about the new kids on blocks in Ghana football, he was quick to admit that the giants of Ghana football will quickly need to depart from traditions and embrace modern ways of football administration which comes with the injection of money into the game.

Coach “Borbor” took Ghanaians he met through his playing days in Nigeria, playing for clubs like Julius Berger, ACB etc and then Accra Hearts of oak. There were some who were surprised to hear this because they never knew “Borbor” played for Hearts.

When questioned on some decisions taken by coaches in terms of selections, the celebrated coach told the gathering that, normally the general public is not aware of situations that prevail at team camps. He made a clear distinction between a player who is fit and not in form and a player who is fit and in form. This response really assuaged the agitations by some group members about team selections.

Before he left the coach told the gathering that for Ghana football to progress, everybody needs to make meaningful contribution to its development. We all have parts to play as players, coaches, supporters, administrators and sympathizers. Ghana football should not be left on the shoulders of a few. He promised the group to come for another visit when he should chance to be in the USA again. He was accompanied by his long time friend Justin.

Compiled by

Mokosco aplakudase@gmail.com