Ben Kwofie, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Tuesday told his audience at the launch of GFA's Five Year Development Plan in Sunyani that it takes many factors to get a winning team in the game of football.
He, therefore, asked Ghanaian soccer fans to desist from venting their spleen on coaches when their teams fail to deliver. He said availability of funds and equipment as well as effective administration including the welfare of players are some of the important factors when put together could bring success in football.
In the absence of these factors or facilities, no football coach can succeed in his efforts to win matches for his team, he said. The GFA Chairman said soon after his appointment he had a vision to introduce a programme that would ensure a systematic development of football in the country in order to eliminate some of problems militating against good results and performance of football clubs.
Kwofie said his plan is geared towards unearthing talents from under-12, 15, 17 and 20.
"It is a matter of catching them young ands not allowing them rust", he stressed.
As to how his programme would be funded, Kwofie said the Ministry of Local Government had expressed its preparedness to instruct District Assemblies to assist.
Yaw Adjei-Duffour, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, who launched the programme, said it would lay a sound foundation for football in the region. He said the Regional Coordinating Council had vowed to promote football in all parts of the region and targeted schools as one are to identify good materials in soccer in the region.
The Deputy Regional Minister commended the GFA for re-introducing curtain raisers or colt matches during premier league matches in the regions, saying the practice would enable colt players to mature into senior players through such exposure.
He mentioned players like Alex Opoku, Awudu Issaka and Prince Adu Poku, who passed through colt teams to hit stardom. Adjei-Duffour called on the Regional Football Association to give equal attention to women's soccer.
Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sunyani, who presided, denounced the cruel manner players from the region selected into national teams are being treated and pleaded with those in authority to give encouragement to all players without discrimination.
He said Isaac Amoako, a regular goalkeeper of B.A. United after being selected for the Under-19, Under-23 and the Senior National team, the Black Stars "never saw Caanan" during the final selection, he queried and urged the GFA to avoid any temptation of discriminating against the region.
D.K. Dwomoh, Chairman of Brong Ahafo Regional Football Association, in his welcoming address commended GFA for providing the region with a Computer and accessories to link them to Accra.
The five-day Programme includes training for football coaches, Administrators and Referees. Among the Instructors for the course are J.K. Boateng, National Referees Instructor, E.K. Afranie, National Coach of the Black Stars, Osam Duodu, Technical Adviser of GFA and George Daasobre, Development coordinator of the Five-year Development Plan.
