Sports Features of Tuesday, 25 December 2012

Source: Raymond Yeboah

Nyantakyi and GFA must sue Songo

Patrick Osei Agyeman, alias Countryman Songo of Asempa FM and Multi TV’s ‘Fire for fire’ fame must be sued by the authorities of the game. Ever since Songo was released from Police cell, all his sports programmes on air seem to be targeted only at GFA boss, Kwesi Nyantakyi as if he was the mastermind of his arrest.

A host of a programme, as the radio ethics imply, must control the callers on the programme from unnecessary attacks on innocent personalities. But you know what? I switched off my television set whilst watching Songo's show on Monday 24 December, 2012. On the ‘Fire for fire’ program, a caller who ought to be controlled ,was given ample time to personally attack the GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi, and all that the host could say was that the caller was expressing his opinion.

Songo should come out clear to compare the works of the current FA boss to that of his predecessors before he continues his unnecessary insulting attacks. As a Sports Journalist, facts is important than anything, so we should know how to assess the performance of somebody in authority. Nyantakyi’s administration have done what Napoleon couldn't do based upon his current achievements. Songo must come out to tell us which Ghanaian football administration first took Ghana to its maiden FIFA World Cup? You can win a continental tournament as a nation for an umpteenth time but without playing at the Mundial, the work done is zero. The name of the country travelled beyond the African continent because of the good work done by Nyantaky's administration. Ghana became the third country on this African continent to reach a World Cup quarter finals on its second finals appearance, the man should be respected.

Again, the name Songo had only witnessed the under 20 world tournament being dominated by the South Americans and the Europeans, with no African country ever winning the tournament before. But sound administration by Kwesi Nyantakyi recorded the first of this feat to this African continent in 2009. Under past administrations, we had only seen Ghanaian failure at these tournaments.

The Ghana Black Stars for the first time in history had better positions in FIFA World Rankings. Under Nyantakyi's administration, Ghana was also able to redeem itself from countries which hitherto had bogey records against us. The likes of South Africa, lvory Coast, Morocco and the rest are now sobered under this current office. In terms of the professionalism of the domestic league, Ghanaians for the first time in history recorded a best ranking position in the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS)’s renowned ranking system.

Songo was talking about lack of sponsorship under Nyantakyi's' administration, it seems those on that sports programme only criticise for fun without cross-checking the history of sponsorship in the league. Gone are the days when Ghana’s title sponsorship of the league was less than 5,000 Cedis and even getting a sponsor in those days was difficult because of the unattractiveness of the league. Now with the help of Glo sponsorship, the league can boast of millions of dollars. Songo and his crew should not criticise blindly. TV screening has sold Ghana’s league to the greatest heights as Supersports now telecast the league matches live for the whole world to see.

Nyantakyi's achievements is incomparable, you people should stop misinforming the public. The current administration to me has changed the Face of Ghana football and we should applaud them instead of discrediting them. Songo shouldn't let his personal and selfish interest guide him.

I am done.