Editorial: Muntari’s Exclusion, Good for Ghana Football

Midfield Ace, Sulley Ali Muntari’s expulsion from the Black Stars 23-man squad for the Angola 2010 Nations Cup seems to have gone down well with Ghanaians, rather than generated public uproar from the supporting populace, taking into account his caliber.

Black Stars manager, Milovan Rajevac, is scheduled to submit his final 23-man squad by January 1, to CAF, and indications are that the Serbian trainer is standing by his word – that is closing the door temporarily on Muntari, despite the player’s late apology.

Muntari, Michael Essien and Asamoah Gyan went absent without official leave (AWOL) prior to the Ghana-Angola International friendly. Their behaviour incensed the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA’s) Disciplinary Committee, which went ahead to slap the three with a US$5,000 fine each, and an apology to the coach and the nation. Essien and Gyan complied with the FA’s decision. However, the Inter Milan midfielder (Muntari) stated that he was not willing to comply with the punishment. And, to add salt to injury, several attempts by Coach Milo to woo him back to the Stars fold, proved unsuccessful.

Reports from the sporting world suggest that the player failed to meet coach Milo when the latter visited Italy, where he plies his trade, for a “truce mission” some few days ago. Coach Milo’s action has also demonstrated that he has big “balls” after all, and should serve as a deterrent to both present and future generations.

Sellas Tetteh axed Ishmael Yartey, one of the finest U-20 players, yet he went, saw and conquered in Egypt, by lifting the ultimate trophy. In as much as he is a good player, Sulley should bear in mind that he is not irreplaceable, and like the game of soccer, while playing, others would be warning up to take up your place.

Ghana has stomached his gross misconduct for far too long (since 2004), prior to the Olympic Games in Athens, during the Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe era), through the Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka era, to date. The Chronicle shares the view with the lot who are clamoring for the nation to close its gates on such players. Living legends like Abedi Ayew Pele, Azumah Nelson, Rev. Osei Kofi, Ibrahim Sunday, among others, are highly revered, due to their high sense of duty to national assignments. In our days, even playing for one’s school team, was a great source of pride, let alone play for a whole nation. Amazingly, what the Osei Kofi’s, CK Gyamfi’s and others earned, by way of remuneration, cannot be compared to the hard currency the current generation takes as winning bonuses and per diem.

Yet, some have developed wings, and think the nation cannot do without them like Muntari’s mother (Hajia Kande) once remarked: “No Muntari, no Black Stars.” Though The Chronicle has reservations about Milo’s men for the Angola Championship, those the coach has invited should prove some of us wrong, and book permanent places in the team. Muntari should not forget that he is in a profession (Football) where discipline and respect are bedfellows, and putting his house in order as early as possible, would be the only way to rewrite his name in the books of angry Ghanaians.

Sportsmen, who have excelled, and are still excelling, have esteemed discipline, a word to Sulley….