GFA must deal with perceived captaincy row now –SWAG

Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - The Sport Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to deal with immediate effect the perceived captaincy row that seems to be rearing its ugly head in the team once again or else the country risks going back to the “dark days” when the national team was hit with a similar row 20 years ago.

A statement issued by the Association said it was worried over reports from the camp of the team to the effect that issues bordering on the captainship arose in the team during the semi-final game against Zambia in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament last Wednesday, hence the need to deal with the situation with all the urgency it requires, if there is any such fracas.

The Association noted with concern that a similar row over the captain's band largely accounted for the reported near-split that rocked the team 20 years ago, when the Stars were on the verge of winning the competition during the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal in 1992. According to the statement, the GFA must spell out the qualities and criteria for selecting a captain of the Black Stars, as well as define clearly the pecking order in terms of assuming captaincy of the team.

It said the national team, which remains the passion of the nation, has come a long way from the era when the captain's band was the source of friction instead of harmony in the team, noting that this obviously contributed to the qualification of the team for two successive World Cups, as well as qualifying for the last four editions of the Africa Cup of Nations since 2008.

The statement said Ghana cannot afford to go back to the “dark days” after her modest successes when conditions were congenial for the Black Stars to rule as the monarchs of the continent.

The statement also noted that the general performance of the team in the competition was a deep source of concern, with regards to player selection and the approach of the coach in the management of the team since assuming office as the head coach. According to the SWAG, selection into the national team has not been the best, with the selection of some players flying in the face of common sense and appreciation of football before the start of the tournament.

The statement said it was evident that some players who had over the past months become bench warmers in Europe found their way into the national team at the expense of players who are regular in their respective teams, even on the local scene.

To this end, the SWAG has stressed the need for the FA to get to the bottom of allegations that an invisible hand linked with the appointment of the Black Stars coach influences the selection of Black Stars players including some who have over and again demonstrated that they don't deserve in any way to wear the prestigious jersey of the Black Stars.

The statement said the GFA must put in measures to ensure that players selected into the national team are fit for competitions at such high levels, whilst only in-form players are selected for national assignments.

According to the statement, the GFA must start preparations for the qualifiers for the next competition early next year by adopting measures to put the team in a better frame of mind to play as a team and to qualify.