Ghana Football Association on the “Toow-noo” List

By Ato Aidoo

“Toow Noo” in the local Ghanaian dialect- Fante, means “you can behave contrary to the norm or immaturely”, but I do not have an alternative coinage than to select the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for a new accreditation. The association is on the international “toow-noo” list.

GFA is still in a coma, and it is not just a mere coincidence that in this confused mode, it is further bedeviled by indecision and bad policies as Ghanaians maintain their silence, failing to call to order administrators of this all-important, but “goofing” outfit.

Before I get closer to the larger picture, let me state with all the emphasis that its imperfections notwithstanding, the GFA will never engage in match-fixing as being speculated by a Canadian journalist. My best bet is that, the journalist should have investigated the root causes of racism in Canada, and how its health system has been unfair to immigrants who also contribute to its economy in diverse ways, misplaced priority, indeed. His investigation was journalistically fraudulent, a clear lack of depth, and common sense.

I know some of the officials working for the FA, their honesty cannot be challenged in the public arena, they are “clean”, but our homeland’s problems can be discussed, and opinions digested for the common good of Ghana.

The heartbeat of Ghanaians is controlled through soccer; this explains why they believed in Ghana to win the Germany 2006 World Cup, though it was the first appearance of its national soccer team. To Ghanaians, their national soccer teams are capable of winning any tournament, and they have the right to think along this belief because they are guided by history. Twice, Ghana has lifted the Under 17 world cup, first African nation to win bronze in Olympics soccer, and the only African nation to qualify for the group stage in Germany 2006 World Cup. The list is long.

Ghanaians are passionate about soccer, for which support for national teams is the unofficial religion of this soccer-crazy West-African country, and yet, beneath its organization is a can of worms, racism, and lack of respect for local coaches who train youngsters to mature into the world stage.

Most of the players who featured in Germany 2006 World Cup were products of Argentina 2000 World Under-20 tournament .They were coached by a Ghanaian, “Coach Hene” – Kwesi Afranie, and the team won silver medal. It is, therefore, an insult to the people, an affront to reasoning, for the Ghana Football Association to suggest that Ghanaian coaches are not well prepared to manage the senior national soccer team.

Michael Essien, Laryea Kingston (one of the most dedicated players Ghana has ever produced), Sulley Muntari, John Mensah, John Paintsil, and almost every player who plays for the senior soccer team has been guided by a local coach.

But in the face of strong opposition, and lack of respect for the contributions of local coaches, the Football Association justified its bad accolade, that “it has a thick skin”, a lacerated clout designed by one of its former chairmen- Nana Sam Brew Butler, though comparatively, Butler was very respectful of the national mood. The flip side being that, Ghanaians were just impatient with Butler’s policies; he did not receive the much needed support to transform Ghana soccer, with the media being the worse offenders.

The present administrative arrangement of the Ghana Football Association must be dissolved through the people’s determination to offset mediocrity, and lack of respect for local indigenes engineered by Kwesi Nyantakyie and his cronies.

Recently, the FA employed a Serbian coach- Milovan “Milo” Rejevac on a $40,000 monthly salary. That was to receive bad vibes, and rightly so, “the best cocoa and “Milo” in the world can be found in Ghana”. We can decipher the link between a Serbian “Milo”, and that of Ghana, the value is not the same.

Added to the confusion, “Milo” cannot speak English; hence the FA is paying a Serbian interpreter an extra 2,000 Euros a month, as part of his employment package. What a waste in an association opposed to offering opportunities to Ghanaian coaches at the highest level, and pay them well.

The gospel truth is that Ghanaian coaches speak English; some of them speak better than many university graduates who majored in English, and their technical competence is unmatched.

What follows this catalog of mistakes even stinks deeper, but it is not a surprise, as it fits into the general profile of an unrepentant association.

Now, the GFA says it cannot meet the demands of a local coach- Kwesi Appiah, who is the assistant to “Milo” – a $6,000 monthly salary, a car, and accommodation.

Once again, a shocking revelation: the Ghana Football Association says it cannot fulfill this request, and that the matter has been referred to the Ministry of Sports and Education for consideration. What kind of consideration? Or is it because Kwesi Appiah has a different skin color?

Ghanaians should speak against this litany of failures, discrimination, and the FA’s apathy with regard to local coaches, or this is just to confirm that the Blackman does not deserve a better pay in his own country?

My diligent options have diminished, while disagreement with Ghana’s FA widens. And there is no other choice than to dig into the literary archives once again to borrow a portion of Mark Anthony’s oration on Julius Caesar. This would help me define Nyantakyie & co. through a deserving standpoint.

“O judgment thou art fled to brutish beast”, as we continue to guess what is next in store for all of us from this “bofrot” football association in Ghana.

Pardon me, “thou bleeding piece of soccer administrators that I am even meek and gentle, my words to these conscious butchers of talents and opportunities within a country, my soul is also there for those who would continue to yearn for recognition and honor to serve Ghana in a more functional way”.

This debate is not over.

ato aidoo, formerly of the features desk, daily graphic, accra, ghana.