“ET TU” SWAG Awards

After watching the SWAG (2008 awards in late 2009) and the FIFA (2009 awards) within three days, I remembered a joke a friend told me sometime ago that, when CNN reported the arrest of Saddam Hussein LIVE on its network, an African T.V. Network reported it in its major news bulletin three days later.

I have often asked myself one simple question, that is, what is it that we have done as a people and continue to do it well, since our so called independence fifty three years ago. That an event like the SWAG awards which started 36years ago (16years before the FIFA player of the year awards) with such colour and passion could also go down just like other events in this country is very disturbing. The FIFA Player of the Year Awards started some twenty years ago, yet it has stood the test of time and keep attracting more and more audience. One cannot say the same about the once prestigious SWAG Awards. Some one will say comparing the two will be like comparing apples and oranges or an elephant and a dog; or a rabit and a monkey. But we must all aim high at whatever one is doing, hence we should see much improvement year in year out for the awards.

The once “SWAG BIG DO” (as it was known) was organized by the “watchmen and women” of Ghana sports at the end of every sporting year, to award outstanding sports men and women. Tickets to the awards were like hot cake and the awards was full of suspense with great nominees, e.g. Abedi Pele, Azumah Nelson, Francis Doudu Wing for the prestigious award. Now the SWAG are even not sure if the even will come off. The once SWAG Calender is now played haphazardly.

The FIFA player of the year award is organized like the way a clock works, therefore attracting more interest and sponsors. If the watchman or woman can not keep his or her house in order, what can he or she do for the rest of us? When did things start to fall apart ? I pause for an answer (though your guess is good as mine).

By the way, is this the same SWAG of John Baiden, Oheneba Charles, Joe Aggrey, Ebow Quansah, etc? Please, its time to re-organise such important events like SWAG Awards and save it from total collapse like the other events I this country.

Nana Yaw Asante Yeboah

Haatso , Accra.

INTERESTING A-Z OF THE 2009/2010 FOOTBALL SEASON

A- Aduana Stars made history by coming from Division one to win the premiership in their first year with the least number of goals scored and conceded Also, the first team from Brong Ahafo Region to do so. 3’A’s for Aduana Stars - Aduana the team, Addo the Coach and Adams the Goal Keeper did the trick.

B- Bad memory. Batholomeow Yeboah lost his life while on duty as footballer. May his soul rest in perfect peace. God be with you Brother till we meet again.

C- Coronation matches - are is always necessary? Why play it cdse when we have a Coronation Park at Sunyani?

D- Dormea Project was very effective. They made sure any team that visited the Royal Park returned empty handed through any means necessary. You can not visit the Royal Museum without hearing strange stories.

E- Economic Football Cooperation (EFC) of Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Region (Brongman Nkosoo and Asanteman Nkosoo). Let us stop this as soon as possible.

F- Foot Soldiers of our league are the pressmen who have turn themselves into so called Communication Directors of clubs. They are becoming dangerous elements of the league through their utterances.

G- Great results in the Glo Premier League. Kessben – O, New Edubiase - 5 (No doubt they sold the club), Hearts of Oak – 5, Hearts of Lions – 6, Kotoko last minute – 5, Olympics – 0, Gods save us.

H- Hearts of Oak and Hearts of Lions had their love affair at the Ohene Djan Stadium, resulting in the eleven goal thriller, plus Goal King. Strange World.

I- International Ghana Football Association The F/A is more interested in Black Stars than the local game which is gradually losing its ground. Nyantakyi Tours.

J- Jordan Anaglah, head of U20 team deserves tons of praise for the way he steered the affairs of the team to win the world cup in Egypt. “Togbe Akpe!”.

K- Killers of the whistle, sorry knights of the whistles. When are we going to have a league season that referees will get a pass mark? Please let us do something about officiating.

L- Lee “Bruce” Addy for me was my player of the year. I don’t care what PLB awards say. Come on Lee, you are not tall but can jump like Bruce Lee. Jump your way unto the sky.

M- Mercy Mao (Sorry Mercy Tagoe) again. She seems to be doing wonders in the Brong Ahafo Region. Last year she solved the relegation puzzle. This time the champions in the same region. Any thing men can do, women can do…………best.

N- Nana Domaahene has set a standard for other chiefs (who have not started) to use sports as a tool to project one’s community to the spotlight. Bravo Nana but please watch some of our ‘Akutea’ comments.

O- OMP and the T.V. Coverage of our matches. They were really economical moving equipment to El-Wak and Ohene Djan, which is good business than moving to Dormaa, Wa and Tamale. It only allowed some clubs to take advantage of the TV Blackout. They should buckup.

P- PLB Awards keep on keep on getting people confused like a music award programme I Ghana. How can you get a best player who is not your best defender, not the best goal keeper, not the best midfielder, nor the goal king, though he was a striker.?

Q- Questions about why our football is no more attractive will never stop. What are we doing to turn things around? The earlier we do it the better it will be for the game.

R- Real Tamale Disunited. Only God Can Stop RTU from fighting relegation. They should stop threatening coaches and use the snakes to scare relegation away from Tamale.

S- Stephen out, Stephen in. Stephen Oduro, one of the best brains of the Game in recent times was out for most of the part of the year; but his place was filled by the other Stephen Adams. Is it the end of an era for Tico Tico?

T- Tamale “Zoo”. ‘Oh’ sorry, Stadium or Tamale Real Snakes F/C? Tamale Stadium is gradually being turned into a circus for magicians to perform. Can’t the FA/PLB stop this stone method of intimidation? Where on Earth can you see snakes I the stadium? “Ei!” Africans and their animals.

U- Union of Relegated Club (URC) founding members – Wise Olympics and Hassacas, it is time the Division One League Board Form a Special Zone for Old Boys of the Premier League. Imagine the other group members – Okwahu, Vipers, Corners, Bofoakwa, ETC. Wow!

V- Vice President Bus Service in support of Ghana Football. As for Rawlings and Kufuor, they did not try at all. They couldn’t even buy a toy bus for Hearts of Oak and Kotoko. President Mills do something now for Dwarfs now, now.

W- Wonders they say shall never end. How can one club go to relegation three times in six years? Only one club can do this. Great Olympics of Course. Oly Dade, Oly “Delegation” apologise to Uncle Dan Lartey.

X- ‘X’ factor. This year it was refined with the alleged men and women the centre and lines, who most often had the watch results in their pockets. Sorry whistle. its allege oh referees.

Y- Yaw Abra Appiah Premier League. Everything about our Premier League is about one man. The FA has decided to push the responsibility of the local league to one man, so that it will not be blamed for the decline of the local football. Hence the new name.

Z- Zero tolerance for our football. This season football fans confirmed their apathy towards our league with poor attendance. It is time something drastic is done to save the situation.

By Nana Yaw Asante Yeboah.