Nyantakyi Refutes Allegations

Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has denied speculations that there was discrimination against the five standby players that travelled with the Black Stars to Germany.

Speaking on a wide range of issues on an Accra based FM station, the FA boss stated categorically that the five players were treated fairly and expressed shock at the rumour. The team travelled to Germany with five standby players to fill any vacuum to be created as a result of injuries to substantive players. The standby players were Baba Amando Adamu, Baffuor Gyan, Philemon McCarthy, Aziz Ansah and Yusif Chibsah. Moments after the team?s arrival in Ghana, rumours became rife that standby players were treated unfairly and were denied some of the allowances due them.

According to the FA boss, the rumours being speculated was in sharp contradiction to what happened from the day the team departed the shores of Ghana to Austria through Hanover to their Wuzburg destination.

He disclosed that the five standby players received the same amount of winning bonuses paid to the first 23. Additionally, they were given Puma track suits, training kits, shirts and other kits just like the other players. The only problem, he said, was the issuance of accreditation to travel with the team to their matches and their accommodation at the hotel the team lodged. Mr Nyantakyi explained that with the limited number of accreditation, it became difficult to get the standby players accreditation.

?Without the accreditation, one is not allowed to sit in the team?s bus or on the team?s technical bench,? he said. In spite of this, the FA, Mr Nyantakyi pointed out, made various arrangements for the standby players to make them comfortable. Among the arrangement was the hiring of a vehicle to convey them to match venues and the hotel.

The FA boss also refuted rumours of a clash between FA media liaison, Randy Abbey and International Relations Officer, Anthony Baffoe. He said the two officials conducted their respective assignments to the best of their abilities and on no occasion did the two accused each other of over-stepping their bounds.

?Randy?s work was purely with media relations with the team and did that perfectly. They have an excellent working relation,? he said. He also slammed speculations that Randy interfered in the work of the technical team.

According to him, Randy?s presence on the team?s technical bench was purely a FIFA requirement to facilitate interviews and also give information about the team.

On the alleged sale of match tickets at exorbitant prices, Mr Nyantakyi stated that no official of the FA was arrested as reported by a UK newspaper. He explained that having failed to sell half of the tickets in Ghana, the FA was compelled to sell the tickets in Germany where the Ghanaian fans came in their numbers to buy. He conceded that some of the fans bought tickets for others and could not therefore rule out the possibility of those fans selling the tickets at exorbitant prices.