FA clears the air on Muntari

From: William D. Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent, Pretoria, South Africa

Pretoria, June 21, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has denied media reports that Sulley Muntari has been sacked from the camp of the Black Stars following a rift between he and the head coach Milovan Rajevac.

A statement issued by the GFA on Monday morning from the team's camp in Rustengburg conceded to media reports that the player indeed reacted angrily in an offensive manner to the coach after the game against Australia, but was never sacked from camp.

His reactions were out of frustrations after the team failed to win a crucial game against the Aussies last Saturday.

According to the statement, the player has been reprimanded for his behaviour and has duly apologised to the coach and the technical handlers of the team, as well as the playing body.

The player, according to further checks by the GNA Sports, trained with the team on Monday and would be part of the squad that will travel to Johannesburg to play Germany on Wednesday.

Fred Pappoe, Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, told the GNA Sports that they have resolved the issue and the team is in tune for the game against Germany.

"Yes he burst up after the game against Australia, for our inability to win, but the issue has been sorted out", the Chairman said. Asked if it will not affect the mood of the team in camp, Pappoe reiterated, "we have resolved the issue".

Pappoe, who doubles as the Vice President of the GFA, refused to make any further comment on the incident, adding that they had issued an official statement.

Coach Milovan Rajevac, it would be recalled, dropped Muntari from Ghana's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola early this year, on grounds of indiscipline.

The coach later patched up with the player, hence his inclusion in the 23 man squad for the World Cup, but has to make do with a bench warmer position since the competition started.

It is, however, uncertain whether the player will be handed a starting role on Wednesday against Germany in what is definitely a must win situation.