For three days (September 30, October 1&2), Ghana Football Association boss Kwesi Nyantakyi faced inquisition by the presidential Commission set up to seek out and reveal the messy details of Ghana's catastrophic outing at the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
Nyantakyi's appearance, although rightfully demanded by the highly powerful Commission, was deemed as surprising to many, following much speculation that the bespectacled capo and his FA officials might hide behind Fifa's impenetrable shield and opt against presenting themselves for questioning.
Eventually he did, though, and duly took the opportunity to notify the public of a few blunt truths.
Here are five:
*HE IS IN CONTROL
Nyantakyi, before the Commission, didn't seem as uncomfortable as many had thought he'd be. The lions' den - at least on only his first day - almost proved his playground. The toothy grins for the camera and ear candy for the remainder present only served to ease the tension mounted as much on him as on everyone else by the preceding hype. Nyantakyi came with his own support cast - comprised of football administrators, fans, serial callers, old players and various stakeholders in the football industry - and, bar a brief burst of indignance that flowed between himself and panelist Moses Foh-Amoaning over re-taken oaths, deflected off nearly every bit of animosity that might have existed in the atmosphere at the Accra Sports Stadium's Media Centre.
*HE'S 'NOT TIRED'
Nyantakyi also used a platform hitherto regarded by many as erected for his 'roasting' to declare/advance his aspirations for the continent's top football position.
"In future when he [Caf supremo Issa Hayatou] leaves I’m sure I could be a potential candidate. . . If I’m not in Caf there is no guarantee that another Ghanaian could be there."
That Nyantakyi, a member of African football's governing body's influential Executive Committee, is desirous of becoming Caf president someday is little secret, yet rarely has he ever been as forthright about such ambitions as he was last week.
In the meantime, Nyantakyi expressed his unyielding focus on his current job at the helm of the GFA. On how soon he wishes to relinquish that post, Nyantakyi's answer would enthuse few of his detractors and rivals.
"If the time comes [for me to leave] I will let you know."
Enough said.
*GOV'T CAN'T CLAIM THE MORAL HIGH GROUND
In the aftermath of Ghana's abysmal show in Brazil, there had been attempts by elements of the ruling government to sling mud at Nyantakyi and the FA, falling just short of accusing them of being the biggest villains of the entire episode. On his maiden day before the Commission, Nyantakyi struck back with details of how the State had shirked its own responsibilities towards the FA and Ghanaian football in general.
He stated that although the regulatory body had an agreement with the government to pay coaches, the latter had thus far relinquished that duty. Going further, Nyantakyi disclosed that the coaches of the other teams are owed $293,000 by the State. This, he said, has forced the FA to settle the debt, of which $117,000 has been cleared.
Clearly, then, the government hasn't been as supportive of the FA's work and the national teams' fortunes as had earlier seemed the case. So while the GFA might still have certain issues of their own to sort out, the State isn't absolved of blame either.
*HE ACTUALLY CARES
Contrary to what many might have believed, Nyantakyi apparently isn't merely interested in hyping and/or fleecing the Black Stars and shutting progress to all other aspects of the domestic game. During his three-day presence, Nyantakyi struck all the right chords. He explained how funds generated from the country's flagship football team are poured into developing the other national sides.
Even advocates of long-deprived Ghanaian feminine football had something to smile about, as Nyantakyi called on the country's female politicians to contribute donations and financial aid to the women's national teams.
*DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
Nyantakyi is a man easily misread. Prior to his appearance at the Presidential Inquiry, there were certain widely-held misconceptions about the man and his personality that might have changed after his submissions. First, his disposition to the Commission's right to probe the GFA's affairs was clarified by the end of Day One [of Nyantakyi's appearance]. The charm and amiableness he exuded endeared him to most - the three-man panel, some of his die-hard critics, and almost everyone else.
Accusations that Nyantakyi was also corrupt and embezzled FA funds at will were quite satisfactorily handled, what with the seemingly logical application of co-efficient and what-nots.
Also, Nyantakyi, as indicated earlier, revealed just how little financial help the organisation he leads receive from the powers-that-be, inisisting "that 84% of the GFA’s funding is from sponsors."
And, oh... for those who doubted the sincerity of his decision to swear by the Qur'an (a move that genuinely stunned an entire nation as Nyantakyi is a 'known' Baptist and has no truly publicized Islamic ties/names), well now you know better.
Call him 'Osman' next time you meet him and see if he wouldn't respond.
For three days (September 30, October 1&2), Ghana Football Association boss Kwesi Nyantakyi faced inquisition by the presidential Commission set up to seek out and reveal the messy details of Ghana's catastrophic outing at the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
Nyantakyi's appearance, although rightfully demanded by the highly powerful Commission, was deemed as surprising to many, following much speculation that the bespectacled capo and his FA officials might hide behind Fifa's impenetrable shield and opt against presenting themselves for questioning.
Eventually he did, though, and duly took the opportunity to notify the public of a few blunt truths.
Here are five:
*HE IS IN CONTROL
Nyantakyi, before the Commission, didn't seem as uncomfortable as many had thought he'd be. The lions' den - at least on only his first day - almost proved his playground. The toothy grins for the camera and ear candy for the remainder present only served to ease the tension mounted as much on him as on everyone else by the preceding hype. Nyantakyi came with his own support cast - comprised of football administrators, fans, serial callers, old players and various stakeholders in the football industry - and, bar a brief burst of indignance that flowed between himself and panelist Moses Foh-Amoaning over re-taken oaths, deflected off nearly every bit of animosity that might have existed in the atmosphere at the Accra Sports Stadium's Media Centre.
*HE'S 'NOT TIRED'
Nyantakyi also used a platform hitherto regarded by many as erected for his 'roasting' to declare/advance his aspirations for the continent's top football position.
"In future when he [Caf supremo Issa Hayatou] leaves I’m sure I could be a potential candidate. . . If I’m not in Caf there is no guarantee that another Ghanaian could be there."
That Nyantakyi, a member of African football's governing body's influential Executive Committee, is desirous of becoming Caf president someday is little secret, yet rarely has he ever been as forthright about such ambitions as he was last week.
In the meantime, Nyantakyi expressed his unyielding focus on his current job at the helm of the GFA. On how soon he wishes to relinquish that post, Nyantakyi's answer would enthuse few of his detractors and rivals.
"If the time comes [for me to leave] I will let you know."
Enough said.
*GOV'T CAN'T CLAIM THE MORAL HIGH GROUND
In the aftermath of Ghana's abysmal show in Brazil, there had been attempts by elements of the ruling government to sling mud at Nyantakyi and the FA, falling just short of accusing them of being the biggest villains of the entire episode. On his maiden day before the Commission, Nyantakyi struck back with details of how the State had shirked its own responsibilities towards the FA and Ghanaian football in general.
He stated that although the regulatory body had an agreement with the government to pay coaches, the latter had thus far relinquished that duty. Going further, Nyantakyi disclosed that the coaches of the other teams are owed $293,000 by the State. This, he said, has forced the FA to settle the debt, of which $117,000 has been cleared.
Clearly, then, the government hasn't been as supportive of the FA's work and the national teams' fortunes as had earlier seemed the case. So while the GFA might still have certain issues of their own to sort out, the State isn't absolved of blame either.
*HE ACTUALLY CARES
Contrary to what many might have believed, Nyantakyi apparently isn't merely interested in hyping and/or fleecing the Black Stars and shutting progress to all other aspects of the domestic game. During his three-day presence, Nyantakyi struck all the right chords. He explained how funds generated from the country's flagship football team are poured into developing the other national sides.
Even advocates of long-deprived Ghanaian feminine football had something to smile about, as Nyantakyi called on the country's female politicians to contribute donations and financial aid to the women's national teams.
*DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
Nyantakyi is a man easily misread. Prior to his appearance at the Presidential Inquiry, there were certain widely-held misconceptions about the man and his personality that might have changed after his submissions. First, his disposition to the Commission's right to probe the GFA's affairs was clarified by the end of Day One [of Nyantakyi's appearance]. The charm and amiableness he exuded endeared him to most - the three-man panel, some of his die-hard critics, and almost everyone else.
Accusations that Nyantakyi was also corrupt and embezzled FA funds at will were quite satisfactorily handled, what with the seemingly logical application of co-efficient and what-nots.
Also, Nyantakyi, as indicated earlier, revealed just how little financial help the organisation he leads receive from the powers-that-be, inisisting "that 84% of the GFA’s funding is from sponsors."
And, oh... for those who doubted the sincerity of his decision to swear by the Qur'an (a move that genuinely stunned an entire nation as Nyantakyi is a 'known' Baptist and has no truly publicized Islamic ties/names), well now you know better.
Call him 'Osman' next time you meet him and see if he wouldn't respond.
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