Football politics is "tougher" than party politics - Ade Coker

Accra, March 30, GNA - Mr Joseph Ade Coker, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has observed that football administration was more difficult than handling party politics. He said while in football administration there were a lot factions and disagreements, the disagreements in party politics mostly stayed on for shorter periods.

Mr Ade Coker, who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the difference between football and party politics on Tuesday, said in football administration the 'discipleship' was inconsistent as they could be swayed by performance decisions and personal benefits. "I am finding my party politics administration quite easier because I have been toughened by football administration, which is more difficult and demanding on daily basis," he said.


As a former Vice Chairman of Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Ade Coker continued that in football administration there were a lot of undermining and undercutting of personalities whilst in party politics, the dependents do not wield enough power to subject leadership under intense pressure.


"My brother, in football administration some people can even pay players losing bonus higher than winning bonus just to discredit the leaders of the day, but in party politics when the party loses, it loses with the entire followers and so they will not venture to do that," he argued further.


He said people believe that there was a lot of money in football administration "so day-in-day-out, there were people everywhere trying to undo whatever others have done to discredit them."

On the selection of players for national teams, he said, there was a lot of politics surrounding that aspect as players, who do not have "God Fathers" (personal managers) might not be selected even though they could be better.


"I do not want to mention names here, but I tell you that there have been quality players, who have never been selected for any national team because they did not have God Fathers who could lobby for them. This is true and we cannot run away from it," he said.


Mr Ade Coker said although party politics was perceived as a dirty game, it was also a beautiful game if well managed, "but football politics is the dirtiest as people can directly barricade your office and call for your outright dismissal."


The NDC Chairman said while in party politics it was difficult for the masses to dismiss an official, football politics was different since people, who put you there, were also the financiers. "I want to advise potential football administrators to brace up themselves before getting there, since one could be removed a day or a week after his appointment," he said. 30 March 10