Baffoe on the box

Tony Baffoe will always be remembered as the Ghanaian who missed the vital penalty kick that cost his country the African Nations Cup title in 1992. But he could soon find a different and rather better kind of fame awaiting him.

The German-based defender's reputation has been haunted by his penalty attempt that was saved by Alain Gouamene to give Cote d'Ivoire victory after a nerve-wracking shootout that ended 11-10 in the Elephants favour.

I've always wanted to do something I could identify with and this is it It was a soul-destroying moment for the dread locked Baffoe, who was among the forerunners of the growing number of African footballers who were brought up in Europe and had more in common with their club mates than compatriots. Now 36 and retired from the game, Baffoe is seeking notoriety of a totally different sort. From August he is to be a TV presenter on German cable television, hosting a new soccer show called "Liga Disney Channel" aimed at children.

Baffoe has already had success as a celebrity presenter and done extensive work as a master of ceremonies for gala dinners in Germany.

"I've always wanted to do something I could identify with and this is it," says the former footballer.

"We are aiming the show at young football fans with a new format and looking at soccer stories through the eyes of the children."

"A lot of the interviews of the professional footballers will be done by children and we'll have a jury of kids too to discuss issues around the game."

"It's great that there is something like this for the children," added Baffoe of the new show, which is to be aired on Tuesday evenings in Germany.

Baffoe, whose dreadlocks have now been replaced by a more conservative shaven-head look, played in the Bundesliga for FC Cologne and Fortuna Dusseldorf before spending three seasons in France with Metz and Nice.

He first played for the Black Stars in 1991, brought into the team by German coach Burkhard Ziese.

His first match for the Ghanaian team was his first trip back to his native country since he was a small child.

He last played for Ghana in the 1994 African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.