Don't be deceived by World Cup performance

Accra, July 19, GNA -- Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports has advised the Ghana Football Association (GFA) not to have a false sense of security by the performance of the Black Stars at the just ended World Cup so as not to be overtaken by events but rather work hard to achieve further laurels.

'We still have a long way to go, despite the sterling performance we exhibited at the World Cup but this should rather be the time for us to explore new ways of improving upon what we did at the World Cup'.


Speaking at the first day of the two-day Ordinary Congress of the GFA, Papa Ankomah said expectations are now high after the World Cup since Ghana is now the team to beat and the nation must be prepared for such challenges.


'The stakes are high and the world is expecting us to do more than what we did at the 2006 World we therefore have no reason to fail.=94 Papa Ankomah said the only way to maintain the standard is to follow the principles of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), which is guided by prudent and effective administrative policies.


The Minister advised officials of the GFA to study the outlook of the FIFA and narrow it down to the situation in the country towards the development of football in the country.

The Minister said football, though a sport is not a charity and the time has come for the application of prudent financial governance so that the nation can continue to benefit from the positive image created by the recent performance of the Black Stars.


He pointed out that the government is taking a look at the structures at the grassroots level as part of efforts to promote youth development in the country, so as to form the foundation of the nation's future in football development.


Papa Ankomah said this would be achieved by the development of soccer academies across the country through its partnership with the private sector.


The Minister expressed the hope that the GFA will do everything within its means to see to it that the Stars maintain their performances in order to foster national unity that the nation is enjoying at the moment as a result of the success of the Black Stars at the World Cup.