Sports Features of Tuesday, 14 January 2014

Source: Sammy Heywood Okine

Kwesi Nyantekyi – The Football Administrator Extra Ordinary

Kwesi Nyantekyi really deserves a very Special Award for Dynamic Sports Administration for he has made it possible for Ghana to benefit from the FIFA Goal Projects, running of courses and seminars for coaches, administrators referees and sports medics.

The GFA now has a renovated secretariat, astro turf at Tema, Cape Coast, Prampram where there are multipurpose fields and halls, building an Academy, under FIFA Goal Project IV Administratively, he has steered affairs at the GFA with dedication and excellence which has transformed his election unopposed as WAFU President and Ghana won the WAFU Cup. Kwesi Nyantekyi is leading a communique to FIFA to increase the African slots at the World Cup. Under his term Ghana has qualified to the World Cup three times, in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

Under his presidency Ghana won the World Youth Championships, the first for an African team on African soil in Egypt in 2009.

Under his leadership Ghana won bronze at the World Under 17 Girls Championship in Azerbaijan, the furthest by an African side at the FIFA U-17 Women’s WorldCup.

Under his leadership Ghana has performed creditably at the AFCON, except he is yet to win this major tournament. In 2013 Ghana placed fourth in South Africa 2013. For the past four AFCONs, Ghana has always been among the best four nations. South Africa 2013 - 4th. Gabon / Equatorial Guinea 2011 – 4th, Angola 2010 – 2nd, Ghana 2008 – 3rd. Ghana qualified for CHAN 2014 Under his leadership the GFA has brokered some sponsorship achievements from GNPC, Super Sport, Unibank, Rice Master and others Under his leadership the Black Stars never complain of any mal treatment. There is sound environment in the smooth management of affairs.

He has ensured Ghana is respected on the international front with his appointments on CAF and FIFA. He believed in the Ghanaian and appointed a Ghanaian, Kwesi Appiah to coach the Black Stars to qualify for the World Cup in 2013.

He reappointed the Ghanaian, Silas Tetteh who led Ghana to win the World Youth Cup in 2009 to make it to the top again, this time taking bronze in Turkey 2013 and winning two individual awards-Golden Boot and Bronze Ball. Assifuah is in contention for African Best Young Player Award 2013. He is very forceful and a team player. Since Ohene Djan in the late 1950s, nobody has brought Ghana very near to FIFA than Kwesi Nyantekyi.