Akonnor wants Kuffour To Replace Him

The out-going Black Stars captain has shown remarkable strength in the wake of the bitter pill forced down his throat by some members of the management team of the Ghana Football Association.

Charles Akunnor until last Friday, (November 30) was dreaming of avenging the two defeats suffered at the hands of South Africa in recent nations cup tournaments… but you and I know that this particular dream of his, will not materialize, at least not at Mali 2002. Yet with the maturity of a true leader CK. Akunnor has proposed that his teammate and soul brother Germany-based Samuel Osei Kuffour be made to lead the Stars.

“Kuffour and I know of the politics some people are trying to play, but we won’t allow it to destroy our friendship. I am hurt at the way I have been treated but I bear nobody a grudge”.

The hypocrisy and cowardice of the past GFA administrations have cost Ghana dearly at several international competitions. Only God knows why some administrators try to sow seeds of discontent among players…it simply does not make sense! After the Black Stars was in existence before C.K Akunnor so what is the big deal if coach Fred Osam Duodo wants to build a new team without him and others like Sam Johnson, Yaw Preko, Kwame Ayew and Richard Kingston? People should not hide behind the coach to score personal points.

There is nothing wrong with team building and I personally endorse 90% of the list of players invited for trial matches. Nonetheless, there is the need for simple procedures to be followed. A telephone call, fax or e-mail these days doesn’t cost much so why did a player of the national team, a captain for the matter hear of his “non invitation” from the BBC and not the GFA?

Nobody is saying CK Akunnor is an angel or the best captain the Black Stars have ever had but he is a Ghanaian and has dedicated the past nine years of his career to the various national teams. Let us give credit where credit is due and stop behaving like hypocrites.

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Addidas likely to kit Black Stars for CAN 2002

The search for kits producers to clothe the senior national team, the Black Stars for CAN 2002 seems over as the German Sports Wear Company, Addidas is in the pole position to get the nod of the Ghana Football Association.

Briefing the press, Mr. Kojo Quarshie, Co-ordinator of the Black Stars Management Committee, said, even though, no agreement had been signed, proposals so far examined pointed to Addidas.

He stated that three companies, Addidas, L-Sporto and Nike put in bids but only the first two brought proposals, which included equipment, financial and technical assistance. "Initially we submitted our own jersey design to them but none was in the position to produce it considering the limited time. We accepted the Addidas design but asked for some alteration in the colours to be in line with the national colours.

"We then subjected the samples to technical evaluation, after which we demanded to speak with the principal actors instead of their local agents. But it was only Addidas that sent in a high powered delegation whiles all attempts to contact L-Sporto officials proved futile."

On the financial aspect of the two deals, he said L-Sporto offered 290,000 dollars in bonuses starting from the preliminary stages while Addidas offered 300,000 dollars in bonuses starting from the semi-finals stage.

Mr. Quarshie said initially the FA wanted the French Coach Claude Leroy to beef up the technical team so they tried to tie it to the clothing package but none of them was in the position to fulfill that aspect and it had to be dropped.

On other sponsorship packages, Mr. Quarshie said they had a non-monetary package with the Coca Cola to supply some of their products to the team but would embark on another deal to exploit the possibility of more rewarding packages.

Guinness the team's main sponsors on Wednesday unveiled a 450-million cedi package for the Mali tournament of which 100 million cedis would go into preparation, 100 million cedis to be paid as bonuses and the rest to cover TV coverage.

He said the FA was forming a consortium with Guinness to exploit the possibility of making other companies to advertise their products on the television during the matches for which Guinness holds the sole right in Ghana. Agreements with Ghana Airways and State Insurance Corporation (SIC) had reached advanced stages, he said.