Abedi Pele backed for GFA post

THREE TIMES African Footballer of the Year, Abedi Aywe Pele, may this week secure government nomination onto the Ghana Football Association.

The former Ghana national team skipper see it as a first step towards his expected election as the Chairman of Ghana Football Association.

Reliable Ghana ministry sources hinted on Tuesday that the 36-year-old former Olympique de Marseille star features prominently on the list of government nominees and is strongly tipped to replace Alhaji Nurudeen Jawula as Ghana’s soccer boss.

The announcement of his nomination is said to be due by this weekend.

"There is so much mess in Ghana football presently that we need someone fresh, well versed in the game and with the right international connections to lift the game. Abedi fits the bill ," said an official of the ministry who has pleaded for anonymity.

ABEDI PELE won the African Nations Cup with Ghana in 1982 at the age of 17. His illustrious career then took him to Benin Republic, The United Arab Emirates, France and Germany. But it was in France that his reputation soared culminating in him winning the European Champions title with Marseille in 1993 alongside popular players like Manchester United keeper Fabien Barthez, Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly and Valencia star Didier Deschamps as captain.

Back home after announcing his retirement in 1998, Abedi set up a football school in Accra but has several times resisted attempts by the Ghana Football Association to drag him back to play for the national team. But he made it clear that he wanted to serve the country’s football in other capacity.

He said: "I should leave the younger ones the chance to play. But I can be useful to Ghana in other capacities. The most disappointing point of my career was my inability to lead Ghana to the World Cup. But my dream is to do either as a manager of president of the FA."

Now, he seems to be at the threshold of realising his objectives.