The Aftermath – Part II

A few days ago I espoused reasons why everyone from Government to administrators to players were responsible for the Brazil fiasco, and today continuing with the second and concluding part so we can collectively resolve to correct our mistakes for much better outcomes in the future.
THE GFA: Where do I even start? Since time immemorial this organization has been run synonymous to an impenetrable mafia organization, and characterized by sheer greed, corruption and mismanagement. Owing to lack of foresight and vision the local league and colts soccer is virtually dead to the extent that Ghanaians are now more emotionally attached to foreign clubs than the Kotokos and Phobias, and every attention is now centered on the favorite cash cow the Black Stars of Ghana. Any tournament is now seen as an opportunity to dupe the nation and players with reckless abandon, and no wonder it eventually got to its boiling point with the players saying enough is enough. Muntari’s actions must be condemned by every sane person but as a Sociology major (undergrad) I’ve been taught not to take actions in isolation but to ascertain the whys – why people behave the way they do, why did A act the way he/she did etc. A few questions exist which methink needs to be addressed if we’re to forestall any future recurrence of the Brazil disgrace:
1. What prompted the players to defy common sense by requesting physical cash (tax deductible by the Brazilian government) instead of direct deposit or promise by the GFA to pay after the tournament? This is mistrust at its highest apex.
2. How come the Minister of Interior, Youth & Sports, GFA President, Technical bench and other dignitaries couldn’t convince the boys to lessen their stance so as to avoid the shameful international ridicule? They say once bitten twice shy but in their case they’ve been bitten countless times no amount of convincing was going to work.
3. How come the number of Black Stars Management Committee members and hangers on exceed the number of playing body? What is the rationale for every member being present? What were the exact functions and roles of people like Yaw Boateng Gyan and Moses Parker?
4. Reports so far from some of the players show poor preparation by the GFA in terms of logistics. How come travel and sleeping arrangements were so poor to the extent that players had to travel in groups via different transfer points?
5. How come per FIFA General Secretary Jack Vaulk’s in his interview with BBC the GFA showed no interest in their mediation attempts? Was it because of their usual ulterior motives to the extent that they’ll rather have the government ridiculed?
6. Why does the GFA Chairman double as Black Stars Management Committee Chairman and is also the owner of a local football club? Herein again is a strong conflict of interest issue.
7. Did the $9.5m request from government include the players’ bonus or not?
8. Is there a code of conduct that applies to Management Committee members and players? Are there punitive measures for Management Committee members who also act out of line? If so what’s the punishment for Moses Parker’s behavior? Inasmuch as Muntari is at fault for striking an elderly person in my books Moses Parker is equally culpable. Why would you instead of diffusing a situation rather inflame it with a reckless statement as ‘you think you can make me one of your victims….I’m more gangster than you’? So now the Black Stars Management Committee is made up of gangsters as well?
These are all pertinent questions which should be asked and satisfactory answers provided so positive outcomes can emanate for better conduct next time around. This made craze of running helter-skelter or harum-scarum over every tournament to enrich their pockets at the expense of the players and nation has to be nipped in the bud. No more than 5 GFA officials should accompany the team for any tournament.
TECHNICAL BENCH: In my write-up before the WC I sounded a caution that Akwasi Appiah (AA) should not only be a coach but a manager of emotions, behaviors and circumstances but from all reports and indications it seems the contrary prevailed. Maybe apart from monetary considerations AA is one coach I think the GFA has shown much favour towards and for that I commend them – refresher training stints, Manchester City’s video analyst to assist him break down the games of Ghana’s opponents in the WC, a psychologist etc. which no foreign coach ever enjoyed. I have argued for the need for the best qualified coach for the Black Stars devoid of skin pigmentation in previous articles but for nationalistic purposes we chose AA as the best, and this isn’t the time and place to argue against that. However, if reports that 45 minutes prior to the Germany clash he was persuaded by John Boye and Asamoah Djan to replace Kwarasey with Dauda because he (Kwarasey) doesn’t speak any of the local languages and as such cannot command the central defense, and he heeded to that plea then honestly he’s already lost the battle. How did Milo and Plavi who neither understood nor spoke any Ghanaian language manage to communicate with the entire team? How different is their circumstance from Kwarasey’s? I’m shuddering to fathom the irreparable damage that has been done to Kwarasey, and wondering if this gentleman isn’t already second guessing himself for making the decision to play for Ghana.
That’s indecision and lack of authority of the highest order, and until he decides to be his ‘own man’ he’ll continue to be in the center of division among Ghanaian fans. And most importantly he needs to be championing the cause of the boys regarding their comfort and welfare but if he plays to the gallery then he’ll lose all control as transpired in Brazil. I personally apportion the biggest blame to the technical bench for what transpired both on and off the field in terms of player output and agitation, tactical efficiency or lack thereof and overall performance. I read on Ghanaweb that team manager Sabahn Quaye without shame stated that they “gave the players an inch and they took a mile”. An inch in terms of leeway to misbehave or what? Whose duty is it to ensure that everything is done within the confines of stipulated guidelines and rules? Such behaviours give impetus to the naysayers that the local coach does not have the wherewithal to command and ensure respect, and unfortunately such reckless statements doesn’t help the least to quell that notion. Coming out of that group in last position and with only 1 point is highly unacceptable, requires an overhaul or an infusion of quality soccer minds to help steer the ship.
PLAYING BODY: There’s a saying in Twi which when literally translated states that whatever one does to impact a plantain invariably impacts the banana as well. A house divided they say cannot stand, and from all indications it seems that’s what transpired amongst the playing body on and off the field. How come the players weren’t united in purpose and vision which resulted in some members being branded as the anti-corruption squad (does that imply others were not concerned about the corruption issues including the captain?), backbiting each other, playing selfishly and lackadaisically in certain instances on the field? The leadership of the playing body has to ensure that in the future there’s a memorandum of understanding or contract binding which spells out every major concern so the focus can be on the important tasks devoid of any distractions, and also to ensure that all egos are checked out of the door, and there’s unanimity of purpose and direction. The captain should be seen as a binding force and not one to be manipulated to suit the whims and caprices of a select few.
Ghanaians they say have very short memories but I hope that this time around there will be concerted efforts by all to ensure that this despicable management of affairs will not recur, and we can go back to supporting the Black Stars to regain their place on the world soccer map.
Long live Ghana, Long Live Ghana Black Stars.

Carl Owusu-Barnes,
Roscoli1@yahoo.com
Maryland, USA.