Outspoken football administrator Kofi Manu ‘Blue Boy’ wants former Sports Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye to apologize to Ghanaians for messing up the fortunes of the Senior National Football team, the Black Stars during his time.
This comes after the former Sports Minister’s admission that politicians meddling in the affairs of the Black Stars is a major contributory factor in Ghana’s over 30 years trophy drought.
Nii Lante Vanderpuiye was corroborating a statement made by Ghana international Wakaso Mubarak that partisan politics has jeopardized Ghana’s trophy chances.
Kofi Manu believes Nii Lante is a worse culprit in politicians directing interfering with football mattes and since he has admitted to it, he needs to apologize.
The veteran football administrator was speaking to Light FM.
“If we say someone has mingled football with partisan politics, Nii Lante Vanderpuiye is not an exception” he said.
“Football politics wasn’t too much during Prez. Kuffour’s administration but immediately Prez. Atta Mills got the mandate then Nii Lante sensed his time has come so they must confuse the world” he continued.
“I am very happy that he (Nii) from his own mouth has confirmed this. I expect him to render an apology to Ghanaians because he has done more harm to wreck the progress of the national team in the country during his time” he mentioned.
Kofi Manu has also accused the former minister of leading a coup against former captain Asamoah Gyan and former Coach Akwesi Appiah.
He said “he was responsible when there was a ploy to strip off the captains Armband from Asamoah Gyan, he and his Vice then Vincent Oppong Asamoah wanted Kwesi Appiah and Asamoah Gyan to fail because of politics”.
Ghana has not won a trophy at the senior level since 1982 despite coming close on a number of occassions.
The Black Stars have lost the AFCON finals three times throughout this 38 year dry spell.
They lost via shootouts to Ivory Coast in 1992 and 2015 and also succumbed to Egypt in 2010.