Proper Support, or Interference?

Lost amid all of the bellyaching and circumspection over the lousy beginnings for 2006 is a fundamental question which could shake Ghanaian football to the core.

The age-old question in African football is how best to build not a squad, but a culture that supports the footballing tradition of the region. A regular refrain is that State sponsorship and promotion (in addition to the daily diet of prayer, public participation and popular support that we take as a given) needs to occur to make this happen.

We have heard this again recently from Graphic Ghana, which expounds at length about the need for greater state sponsorship of the fortunes of Ghana football, especially for greater economic support for the national teams and more public parks including football parks to allow the nation’s natural talent to grow. If you are interested the article can be found at- http://www.graphicghana.info/article.asp?artid=9969

While I roundly endorse the author’s perspective and appreciation for green space, I cannot help but notice that on the same day that this paeon for state involvement appears, the Ministry of Education and Sport has begun a campaign to re-include Michael Essien and Sulley Ali Muntari on the CAN squad.

The facts that both are still gimpy from injury, that the Grandmaster deemed them a greater distraction than an advantage for Egypt and that CAF rules clearly require “force majeure” to change a lineup once it has been submitted do not phase the Ministry. They lack faith and see what would appear to be a quick popular fix, and come hell or high water, they will force their will onto a squad already underappreciated for their labors.

And is this not what we have greatest to fear? Surely adding more economic involvement from the ministry would not be a bad thing. But as with all matters, when one pays, one expects to have a say. And that is certainly no different with the Ministry, which is judged, fairly or unfairly, on the basis of the performance of the Stars. Should they have a greater skin in the game, who is to say what more outrageous demands they might make. And where would the limit be?

One can almost imagine the day when the Grandmaster receives a call on the pitch from Misiter Osafo-Marfo telling him to replace Gyan with Tagoe, as Gyan missed his last attempt too far wide. Unthinkable.

Take your filthy money if you will, but if you ask me, the choice remains to minimize the involvement of the Ministry into the activities of the Black Stars. Too many chefs spoil the broth!