Top Players Back Abedi's GFA Bid

Ghanaian soccer legend Abedi Ayew Pele's bid to become chairman of Ghanaian Football Association has received a major boost with a public declaration of support by Bayern Munich's Samuel Osei Kuffour and veteran striker Anthony Yeboah.

Kuffour, who has become a media favourite since his return home after helping Bayern to their European Champions League triumph last week said, Ghana needs a personality with deep knowledge of the game to turn the nation's fortunes around and he believes the three-time African footballer of the year has that.

Kuffour said though Abedi has no administrative background, he feels the former Black Stars captain has valuable leadership qualities that would help him as FA Chairman.

"He was a fantastic player and I think he would translate that into a management position," Kuffour said of his former skipper.

The deputy Black Stars captain has often stated that Ghana's inability to qualify for the World Cup is because of poor organisation.

Whiles not too certain about what Abedi would bring to Ghana football, he believes the three-time African footballer of the year is his favourites candidate for the job.

Kuffour said: "Everything about football is now business and we the players need to be assured there is someone behind us, to motivate us and get things done properly. I am confident things would change when Pele comes."

The endorsement of Abedi's FA chairmanship by Kuffour comes as a timely boost for the former Black Stars captain after another Ghanaian star, Tony Yeboah said he would throw his weight behind him.

Opponents of Abedi's bid say the purely administrative nature of the job requires far more than an exceptional football career, whiles Abedi's supporters argue that his top level experience in world football and influence would help make him a good chairman.

The official announcement of Abedi as one of the government's two representative of the FA is likely to be made anytime this week. The Executive Council of the GFA would then decide via an election on who becomes the chairman.