Don’t smear Black Stars with partisan politics

Let's keep our passion for Black Stars away from partisan politics

Partisan politics breeds strife. It brings division. It’s a major source of tension and conflicts if not in Ghana, across Africa. I am not sure if anything has threatened to put this nation on the verge of bloody clashes more than what partisan politics has done in recent years. As a journalist and also a political science student, I don’t believe that, politics itself is dirty. It is the actors who soil the turf and dirties the game; forcing people to believe that politics is a dirty game.

In Ghana, we have always had instances where politics becomes dirty and dirtier and that compel people to alter their perception of politics. There are some Ghanaians who have sworn never to have anything to do with politics. They argue that our politics is just divisive. That is why most people didn’t take it lightly when some supporters of the Black Stars were captured by television cameras donning T-shirts of President Mahama during the Egypt-Ghana World Cup qualifier in Cairo last week.

I watched that game. I also saw the fans in their white T-shirts with the President’s picture. I wasn’t surprised. At this year’s Nations Cup in South Africa, many of the fans who traveled from Accra to Johannesburg; Port Elizabeth and later Nelspruit came with T-shirts of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). It was no secret that most of the people who trekked to South Africa in January with government support were supporters of the NDC.

It is important to acknowledge that there is nothing wrong with them being NDC supporters.  They have the right to make a political choice. Whether they must take their political preferences and the things associated with it to a football tournament is another issue. Seriously, I would have seen nothing wrong with wearing Political Leaders’ T-shirts or Political Parties’ attire to watch Black Stars matches if our politics wasn’t unnecessarily partisan.

Black Stars line-up against Egypt

Let’s be honest. This is a polarized country. We have been divided along political lines for far too long. One senses that strong division when national election gets close. There are more than two political parties in Ghana yet the two dominant ones are the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Again, let’s face it. We are in a country where people haven’t developed to the point of understanding that we can be of different political affiliations and still be friends.

There are some NDC and NPP supporters who sadly, do not see eye-to-eye. It’s unfortunate. They hate each other. Interestingly, in spite of that hatred (which only hypocrites will deny), the Black Stars unite both NDC and NPP supporters all the time. I mean, the Black Stars unite Ghanaians despite our different political persuasions. That is why it is worrying when shameless attempts are made to smear the very thing that unites us with cheap partisan politics.

Yes, President Mahama is the first gentleman of the land. It is even appropriate, therefore, to describe him as the biggest fan of the Black Stars but I doubt if the President was happy to see the needless attempt to please him with that show of loyalty in Egypt. Prior to the first leg match in Kumasi, the Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Joseph Yamin was reported to have said that the NDC would beat the NPP in terms of World Cup qualification achievement, if Ghana eventually qualified for Brazil 2014.

The Stars applaud themselves after the 6-1 win in Kumasi

That was an unnecessary politicization of the Black Stars’ World Cup qualification exploits. There was absolutely no need for that just like the T-shirt stuff sent to Egypt. When football fans go to the stadium to cheer national teams, they either wear sporty attires or replica jerseys, not T-shirts displaying photos of their Presidents or their favourite Political Leaders.

Who has ever criticized football fans in Ghana for wearing replica jerseys of say, their idol players? Why is it that many people are criticizing what we saw in Egypt? Legally, nothing may prohibit fans from wearing T-shirts of their Presidents or Political Leaders to watch football but it makes little football sense why anybody would want to smear the Black Stars with something akin to partisan politics at the time political affinity has been put underground by all.

Whoever mooted the idea of printing T-shirts with the President’s picture in front, for Black Stars supporters to wear at the Egypt-Ghana game didn’t think critically through issues surrounding our politics and football? We cannot tell whoever did that to stay away from the Black Stars. Neither can we, in actual fact, disengage football from the clutches of party politics. What we can do is to advise whoever printed and distributed those T-shirts to understand that, when it comes to Black Stars, partisan politics has no place because football unites us more than anything else.

Ghana’s final onslaught on Egypt

This was the line-up that beat Egypt 6-1in Kumasi

The first leg result in Kumasi at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium was an amazing 6-1 drubbing of the seven-time African Cup of Nations Champions, Egypt. No one, absolutely no one, imagined that the Black Stars led by Coach Kwasi Appiah were going to whitewash the Pharaohs of Egypt that afternoon. The day however had its own story to tell. At the end of the game, Ghana humiliated Egypt.

The return leg is on today. Football pundits have been reminding us how the game follows no logic and how what one least expects could happen. But I say with certainty that, as the Black Stars of Ghana face the Pharaohs of Egypt later today in the 2014 FIFA World Cup match (the last of the qualifying series), no amount of football’s illogicalities can aid the Egyptians to overturn the 6-1 result recorded in Kumasi.

There will be more misery for the Egyptians today

Reading stories on the Black Stars’ preparation in Turkey and all that have taken place concerning the upcoming match, I share the statement by a serial caller that, Egypt cannot beat Ghana for the ticket to Brazil unless perhaps the world would once again witness the miraculous deed which saw God setting the Red Sea apart for the Israelites to pass through on dry land while being pursued by their enemies.

Call it Biblical stories brought into football. That is the extent fans have taken the pre-match talk. That should send a message to the Black Stars that we are expecting nothing apart from a result that would see Ghana at next year’s biggest football fiesta in Brazil. We are all waiting to be in Brazil and it will be Ghana’s third successive World Cup appearance.

It is refreshing to note that when the call was made in 2006, Germany; Ghana was there. Again in 2010, South Africa; the first World Cup to be held on African soil, Ghana was present. We lifted the African flag high by being the only African country to get to the quarter-final stage of that competition. We cannot miss the boat this time. From the score line in Kumasi, it is abundantly clear that Black Stars of Ghana have the advantage. It is also worth noting that, when the Stars eventually qualify, Coach Kwasi Appiah would have made history by being the first local coach to send Ghana to the World Cup.

Ghanaian fans like this one will be happy to see Ghana in Brazil 

Thus the former Kotoko player is on the brink of making history and for that reason, he should not fail. It is good and important that Ghanaians have confidence in Kwasi Appiah and his players. Everybody has been rallying behind them since the qualifying series kicked-off. I have even seen non-football enthusiasts, by virtue of the Black Stars 6-1 result, being compelled to say a prayer for the team.

Therefore the strong conviction is that Ghana will secure the ticket to the largest South American country, Brazil for the biggest football fiesta. The serious pre-match talk, to a reasonable extent, has been dominated by security concerns given the political situation in the North African country. Realizing the power of football; I mean how football can foster peace and unity among warring factions in even the bloodiest of civil or political unrest, I would have wished that the Pharaohs were playing another country, not Ghana.

Victory as displayed on the fan's chest will be Ghana's

In that case, I would have said a prayer for the Egyptians to grab the 2014 World Cup ticket to see how football can turn things around for them. On a more serious note, it is my fervent prayer that the political situation in Egypt changes and changes for good. When the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports started talking about the need for the security arrangements made by FIFA and Egyptian authorities to be made clearer, some people didn’t understand.

Others even thought it was unnecessary. On the evidence of the moves that have been made regarding the security and safety of our players and officials before, during and after the match, I believe it was important that Ghana asked questions and had those questions properly answered. FIFA officials meeting Ghanaian officials in Lome; a Ghanaian delegation also visiting Egypt on Thursday to acquaint themselves with security arrangements prior to the Black Stars’ arrival was indeed imperative. Now, as Ghanaians, all we are looking forward to is an exciting match. At the end of the day Ghana must grab the World Cup ticket to Brazil 2014.

Where is Kotoko’s administrative structure?

News of the appointment of Ali Maradona and Solomon Nkansah as the Public Relation Officers of Kotoko came as a surprise to a section of the club’s supporters. Their surprise, from what I gathered, stemmed from the fact that not many of them had wind of that interim appointment.

Ordinarily, supporters not having prior information about an appointment in the club shouldn’t raise eyebrows because overtime concerns have been expressed over how Kotoko ‘top secrets’ are shared in the media before they are officially made public.

But as I searched deep into the supporters’ surprise reaction, I found out that there is a silent yet strong dissatisfaction with how matters relative to Kotoko’s administrative setup have been handled lately. Ali Maradona and Solomon Nkansah as spokespersons for Kotoko? How? For some, the problem with the latest appointment has nothing to do with the personalities involved but rather what the long term, policy direction of Kotoko is regarding communications or PR.

What's our view of PR? For others, there are critical issues relating to the background of the personalities appointed, exactly what their roles are or will be and whether or not, on the whole, they will bring the expected growth Kotoko needs in that office. The point about Kotoko having a firm administrative structure has been made before and it has been argued repeatedly, that, Kotoko’s performance on the pitch cannot be delinked from how strong the club is on the administrative front. I also share that view.

I do not know of the past but in this present generation, no institution, whether in football, finance or politics can be competitive in its area of operation if it is administratively weak. Kotoko is administratively weak at the moment. The current situation is one that many supporters of the club do not like. I dare add that throughout the times that Kotoko underperformed on the pitch (at least in the last decade) the club did not have a proper, well-defined administrative structure.

Those who disagree with this view can check Kotoko’s performance – starting from 1999 to date. There is ample evidence to show that when Kotoko was administratively strong in the regimes of Herbert Mensah and Sylvester Asare Owusu, for example, the team chalked relative success on the pitch. I say without fear of contradiction that, the immediate past Executive Chairman, Dr. K. K. Sarpong and his team of managers also solidified Kotoko’s administrative structure. It was no surprise that they chalked significant successes in the three-year stay.

This is not to their defence but I sincerely think that Dr. Sarpong and his management and the Board did a good job administratively. Now certain questions have to be asked in the supreme interest of the club. Apart from Opoku Nti, the acting General Manager (who was Dr. Sarpong’s Special Assistant), virtually none of the managers under Dr. Sarpong are not in office. Why is that? What happened? Didn't we have to ensure that they stay in office to bring consistency? Ok, so now, when will there be substantive CEO? Will Opoku Nti be confirmed? Will he be sacked? Who has been handling the building projects that the last administration started? Who is the marketing manager?

Members of Kumasi Asante Kotoko's current Board

Who handles administrative issues? Who represents Kotoko in Accra? And who has been speaking for Kotoko? Projects, administrative work, marketing, representation in Accra and public relations: these are sensitive areas in Kotoko’s administration which deserve utmost attention because no matter how removed these areas are from the players’ performance on the pitch, their importance cannot and must not be underestimated.

On the matter of who speaks for Kotoko, it must be noted that, what Kotoko needs is not individuals who seize the airwaves to regularly speak on behalf of Kotoko with or without approval from the club. What Kotoko needs is a qualified communication strategist; a media or Public Relations expert who would work with well-designed communication strategies tied to the club’s marketing ideals, objectives and to ensure that there is maximum achievement.

Projecting or enhancing Kotoko’s image in the eyes of the public or the media; communicating Kotoko’s aspirations require proper expertise. It is must not be done anyhow. If Kotoko will be able to market its brand, attract substantial capital for development and also compete favourably on the continent, not on the domestic scene, managers of the club ought to urgently look the administrative structure.

The current state of affairs can be better. Kotoko have the potential to excel in terms of raising adequate revenue to fund its activities but that potential can only be realized when clear-cut administrative structures are laid with people assigned specific duties and targets and in addition, supervised to live up to expectation. I thus make a passionate appeal to the Board of Directors to critically consider this matter and do something about it.

Should Kotoko go to Africa next year?

Kotoko's Africa campaign committee met in Kumasi yesterday.

November 30, 2013 is the deadline given to the Ghana Football Association for the confirmation of participants for the 2014 intercontinental club competitions. By virtue of their achievements on the local scene last season, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Berekum Chelsea, Ebusua Dwarfs and Medeama are the candidates for the CAF organized competitions.

While Kotoko and Chelsea are for the Champions League; Dwarfs and Medeama are eligible to compete in the second most prestigious club competition in Africa, the Confederation Cup. Kotoko have not formally written to the GFA as to whether or not it will participate in next year’s Champions League but with the formation of the Africa campaign committee by the Board, there is utmost certainty that Porcupine Warriors will be in Africa.

I am aware that the yet-to-be inaugurated Africa campaign committee will be chaired by former Board member Alhaji Abu Lamini. Alhaji Lamini was a member of the committee that handled the club’s 2013 Africa campaign. Yesterday, the 2014 committee met in Kumasi to discuss plans for the club’s campaign.

Ahead of that meeting, varying views were expressed by Kotoko supporters over the club’s participation in next year’s Champions League. While a small yet vociferous section of the fans felt that Kotoko currently doesn’t have a team that would be able to conquer Africa like it did decades back, there were those in the larger majority who were convinced that regardless of the team’s present state, the pedigree of Kotoko requires that it plays in Africa.

Then were also those who came in with the money matters. They argued that playing in Africa demands huge financial resources. Therefore, at the time that the leadership of the club is confronted with dire financial difficulties, they were not sure how the managers of the club would surmount the financial challenges to stay afloat on the stormy Africa terrain. All the arguments are valid but you must first listen to the counter-arguments before passing judgment.

For a better presentation and understanding of why Kotoko must go to Africa, some points have to be considered. Team building is a process, Alhaji Lamini; the Chairman of the 2014 Africa campaign committee told me in an interview on this burning subject of Africa participation. As already stated, some supporters feel that Kotoko is not ready for Africa.

Alhaji Lamini disagreed. The current Kotoko team isn’t as strong as most supporters want it to be, he said but the club’s resolve is to strengthen beef up the squad especially in attack before the competition gets underway in February 2014. With the reinforcement and other things being equal, Kotoko must at least get to the league stage. Again, Alhaji Lamini admitted that, Kotoko needs sound financial footing to make meaningful impact in Africa.

The committee’s work in that direction was well cut out for them, the chairman stated, adding that vigorous fund raising among other measures would be implemented to provide the necessary funding for the Africa campaign. Not all of the committee’s plans were divulged because of the impending meeting in Kumasi. I was however convinced that the Africa campaign committee will not fail.

On that score, there are little or no reasons for Kumasi Asante Kotoko to stay out of Africa. The possibility of Ghana losing its two slots which were recently restored by the continent’s football governing body is real, if our clubs qualify yet pull out of the competition. Furthermore and (with no disregard for the club’s impressive achievements on the local scene), it has to be stated that Kotoko supporters are becoming wearing of glories on the domestic scene.

Thus considering the cases for and against the club’s 2014 Africa campaign, I am of the opinion, that, it is all right for Kotoko to go to Africa with their eyes on at least a place at the league stage. After all, without an appearance at the league stage, there is no chance of a semifinal or final berth. The club would have to plan well and be adequately prepared for that big stage.

The 2014 CAF Champions League will be the 50th edition of Africa’s premier club competition. It also be 18th since the competition’s format was revised. It does not befit Kotoko’s status that of the previous 17 competitions, the Porcupines have been at the league stage of the Champions League just once. This does not suit the pedigree of the African club of the century. The club must do something worth talking about with their appearance next year.