When I first heard that the Black Stars’ left winger, Sule Ali Muntari, had arrived in the country ahead of the team, the question that involuntarily parted my lips was: “Sule again?”
After debating the possible reasons with myself, I came to the conclusion that there was nothing wrong with that if, for some reasons, the player had sought permission from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to fly ahead of his team-mates. I was later to realize that my conclusion was wrong. This was when GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi said on Joy FM that the FA did not know why Sule had left the rest of the team and flew home. As to whether the “bad boy” would be punished or not, the soft spoken GFA president said that would depend on how reasonable or otherwise the player’s explanation would be when he was invited by the GFA. This was what stung me like a scorpion!
What annoyed me most, however, was when I later read readers’ comments under the story on myjoyonline.com. A lot of the people who commented advertised their ignorance a great deal when they said there was nothing wrong with what Sule Muntari did.
Their reason?
What was important was that Sule could deliver on the field of play, whatever happens after that was not necessary and that GFA should leave Sule alone. I don’t know the background of those readers since these stars, like politicians, have a host of hungry followers who would defend them even when they themselves admit their wrongdoings.
The GFA has no business inviting Sule to go and explain why he decided to leave ahead of the team. It is Sule who owes it a duty to go to the GFA. And to me, there cannot be any reasonable excuse to justify his behaviour, if he indeed left camp without any permission. The players did not stay in different homes while in South Africa. The players and their technical handlers were all accommodated in a hotel. Sule was not alone. This means if the decision to leave the camp of the team was taken a ten minutes before he left South Africa, he could have had the opportunity to inform the FA officials or the coach, directly or through the captain of the team before leaving.
So if the GFA President, who is supposed to be the leader of the delegation, is telling the whole country he did not know why the player left ahead of time, then what on earth has Sule got to explain.
It is also interesting to note that Sule is one player whose acts of indiscipline in the team are well documented. During the tournament, coach Milovan sacked him and it took his apology and the intervention of some officials to calm the coach to retain him in the team. It was this same Sule, who, together with Michael Essien and Asamoah Gyan, refused to go and play Ghana’s friendly match against Angola. When his two colleagues apologized, Sule was too proud to do that. He was subsequently precluded from the Black Stars squad which won silver at the Angola 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
If any of our countless prophets and “prophets” had prophesied that Sule would do what he has done when he was recalled into the team, such a prophet was sure to lose a great deal of followers. But Sule has remained as unrepentant as Satan and I think this is the time to tell him that enough is enough.
Or is the GFA justifying Sule Muntari’s mother’s assertion that “without Sule Muntari, there is no Black Stars”?
This is not to say that I don’t appreciate what he has done for the nation. Even if hate Usain Bolt, you must fail to acknowledge his speed. Sule has been one of the greatest players of the national team in recent times. He was very instrumental in the team when the Black Stars first registered Ghana’s name as a formidable force in world football in the Germany 2006 World Cup. He also played an invaluable role in the qualification of the team to the South Africa 2010 World Cup. Indeed, he has paid his dues to his nation. But that is not a guarantee for him to behave like someone who has PhD in indiscipline.
What Sule and his disciples must not forget is that the Black Stars have proven that they can reach the upmost height without the so-called “experienced players.” Indeed, the 2010 World Cup has thought us that the so-called experience in football is a myth and not a reality. The greatest lesson I have learnt in this world cup is that it is a team and not “big names” that are needed to produce results in football.
Star-studded France had to go home without a single point in the tournament though they had the very best of experienced stars who play regularly in top clubs in the world. It was indiscipline and lack of unity in the camp that made the team lose to even South Africa, who were made up of mainly local players. It will be waste of space to talk about Cote D’Ivoire, our next door neighbours? Where were stardom and experience when Germany’s anonymous youngsters showed Argentina the route out of South Africa?
Sule Muntari’s continues presence in the team will be a signal to the rest of the players that the FA is gleefully courting indiscipline. And we must not forget that no matter how good the players are, we will surely retrogress many miles backward if there is no discipline in the team. Football is about team work, and not individual skills. Abedi Pele and his squad were perhaps more talented (individually) than the current squad, but why could they not even qualify to a single World Cup?
One does not need to be a soothsayer to say that Ghana has built a strong foundation in recent times and must consolidate the gains we have made. Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi and his men must be commended for the good work done, despite their many lapses. Mr. Nyantakyi will go down in history as one of the most successful FA Presidents. But his efforts in laying such a solid foundation in Ghana’s football must not be allowed to go waste.
During the 2008 Africa Nations Cup, Ghana won bronze and at Angola 2010, we won silver. In Germany 2006, we got to the 1/16th stage and in South Africa 2010, we progressed to the quarter finals stage. With our sterling performance, despite our inability to utilize the glaring opportunity that presented itself for us to make history, there is no doubt that we’ll be the favourites to win the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. We must also go beyond even the semi-finals stage in Brazil 2014.
We don’t have to go be bed and wake up the next morning to achieve these feats. It takes a lot of hard work and preparation. It takes discipline. And if some players have shown enough indication that they are not willing to submit, then oya! If players like Ronaldinho can be dropped from the Brazilian squad, then who is Sule Muntari? Has Dede Ayew not proven to be a better replacement?
Our footballers and all those who hold high the flag of Ghana in sports and other international competitions should consider it a great honour in the first place. If you’re chosen to be among the 23 out of over 23 million Ghanaians, then what greater honour is there than this? Besides, all of us must not fail to acknowledge the grace of God in our success. Let’s allow humility and submissiveness to rule our lives. After all not everybody was born with healthy feet, not to talk of those endowed with sporting prowess.
Aside the wealth and fame, we have our integrity to guard. We cannot be role models with our skills alone. Our character and the way we conduct ourselves are what will immortalize us when we finally exit from the stage after performing our roles.
Perhaps, Sule and his likes must listen to Tiger Wood’s advice when the spot light fell on his “real self.”

“I once heard, and I believe it's true, it's not what you achieve in life that matters; it's what you overcome,” Tiger Wood said when he faced the media to apoligise to the world after his infidelity was unmasked. ”Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count.”
Character and decency count and sports men who conduct themselves well will still be earning great incomes and respect when they retire. Sule may have to look at where Abedi Pele sits in the stadium and ask what has distinguished him from other great players.
A word to the wise is in Bongo (north), where Albert Abongo is MP and where yours truly was hatched exactly a decade and a half ago.

Credit: Manasseh Azure Awuni [www.maxighana.com] Email: azureachebe2@yahoo.com The writer is a freelance journalist based in Accra, Ghana. To read more of his writings, visit www.maxighana.com.