It is now certain. The government would propose Abedi Pele as its choice to replace Alhaji Jawula as GFA Chairman.

The soccer maestro dominated the last two decades of the twentieth century as Ghana's best-known name in the field of soccer. Abedi Pele's name is what Baba Yara's name was to another generation of soccer aficionados four decades ago when Ghana ruled African soccer.

The keenly sought-after post is as prestigious as it is emotionally draining. The last GFA boss, Alhaji Jawula, a civil servant of many years' experience is leaving the office emotionally strained with possibly more "enemies" than when he took up the post.

Currently, the Vice President of Ghana, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who is temporarily in charge of sports, is said to be more in favour of the former Black Stars captain to take over from Jawula. His association with the maestro goes back to the early eighties when as a member of the governing board of Real Tamale United (RTU), he and others discovered and nurtured Abedi Pele to grow up to become Ghana's greatest footballer of his generation. It is a chemistry that worked and the Veep obviously has that in mind in his quest to make Ghana soccer great again.

Critics however are quick to point out that Abedi lacks administrative experience, but even that cannot disqualify him because over the years he has built up a vast business empire, which he has been running successfully. Most of the football managers in the country are not administrators in the traditional sense of the word, but successful businessmen with wide local and foreign contacts and the will to succeed.

The best known local managers in Ghana today are Harry Zakour of Hearts of Oak and Herbert Mensah of Kotoko, both very successful businessmen. Though Mr. Mensah is a highly educated man, Mr. Zakour is not but their commitments to their clubs have put both men on the top list of Ghana's who is who in soccer administration.

Abedi's problem may stem from not his perceived inability to administer but what co-operation he will get or not from the powerful interest groups of Ghana soccer. FIFA, CAF and many African countries already recognise Abedi Pele as the man they can do business with and have accorded him many honours.

There is no doubt about his international contacts and on the local scene he has become a folk hero and role model.

"Let's at least give some one with experience on football pitches the chance", said an Abedi supporter to The Accra Mail, "he will put footballers first, and not what per diem he would get". That it would seem is the bottom line: who would put Ghanaian footballers first?