Tour of regions: Nyantakyi debunks Odotei's political talk

GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi has refuted allegations made by perceived competitor for the top post in Ghana football Odotei that his tour of the various regions across the country is politically motivated. Nyantakyi says it is fickle-minded talk and baseless that, the Regional tour to promote football in the country must be misinterpreted by anyone that he is using the tour to campaign for the next year's GFA presidential elections.

“GFA is not my property, I don’t even know when the elections is coming on. I am a lawyer and if I leave GFA, my life will still go on,” Mr. Nyantakyi said in Sunyani on Wednesday. He stated that it is an agenda of his to take football to the door step of every Ghanaian during his tenure of office, accordingly a football forum at Regional level will be introduced soon.

The chief of Ghana football said this in the Brong Ahafo Regional capital, when he together with Chairman of Women football at the GFA, Mr Fred Crentsil and lsaac Addo, officer in charge of GFA Marketing and sponsorship, met all the stakeholders in Brong Ahafo football at Twene Amanfo Technical Institute on Wednesday.

Despite a 2 hour delay of the meeting amid poor organisation by the organisers, attendance was encouraging with journalists enjoying an open session for all to ask Mr. Nyantakyi any question.

Brong Ahafo Regional FA Chairman Augustin Asante put all the problems facing football development in the region before the GFA capo who responded positively to the various challenges. Mr. Nyantakyi promised to help complete three uncompleted office blocks put up by RFA at the Sunyani Coronation Park.

In addition, the GFA President also promised 2000 footballs, jerseys, boots and tracksuits would be given to the champions of Colts football competition in the region. He revealed that Colts football is set to be revived with regional and national colts’ club tournament for champions in order to raise the standard of colts football and its development in the country.

According to Mr. Nyantakyi, motivation and encouragement for the promotion of juvenile football will include awarding the regional organisers of that sector at the PLB Awards night, with each respective RFA mandated to select five best organizers within the region for the awards.

Kwesi Nyantakyi has also promised to bring back curtain-raiser games by colts teams before Premier league games from next season. Again, there is going to be a reserve league to help non-regular players be active. The question of increasing clubs composition of the Premier League from 16 to 20 came up but the FA boss said is the duty of congress to discuss that.

On coaches, Mr. Nyantakyi revealed that the GFA is institutionalizing a policy where from next season, no one without a coaching license can coach any club. Courses would be arranged for such coaches including colts club coaches.

He also touched on the issue of delay in disciplinary committee decisions, promising that there will be no such problems from next season. On the suggestion that the Disciplinary Committee panel of judges should be made full time employees, he said it is not possible because there is no money to pay them.

Mr. Nyantakyi also spoke about the return of the FA Cup, saying it was abandoned because of lack of sponsors but it will bounce back with sponsors. On the pre-season gala, the FA boss is against it because according to him, many of the clubs who win it often get relegated because players break down after playing 3 games a day and set B/A United and other clubs who won the gala but were relegated as examples.

He commended Brong Ahafo Region for having the highest number of 1st and 2nd division clubs in Ghana believing that within 2 to 3 years they could have the highest number of premier clubs in the country. He said individuals like Alhaji Yakubu Moro deserve praise for raising the game of football in the region because he started Berekum Arsenal from Division 2.

Mr. Nyantakyi concluded with a promise to set up football development plan amid pleading with politicians and businessmen to financially support and help promote Division Two football in Ghana.

The GFA President also met and feted ASHBORG, the Brong Ahafo press corps before leaving for Accra.