Long absence from literary work

Contrary to the promise I made, my column has for some time now been absent from the website.


It was due to circumstances beyond my control. I was held up by several other calls to duty both home and abroad that took the better part of my time.

I have bounced back. I shall endeavour to communicate with you on a wide range of issues basically about the world cup. Please accept my apologies for the absence.

Ghana’s preparations towards the 2006 world cup has taken off on a serious note.

On 17th May 2006 the team started camping in the Austrian town of Mittlesaat near Klagenfurt.


The response of the players to camping was initially not impressive. They trickled in batches till the whole contingent finally assembled on 20th May 2006.

Training is brisk with a lot of commitment and determination showing from each team member. I am impressed with the training schedule.

The coach has considered a lot of the suggestions we made in our meetings with him.

Our concerns about the few training times given to the practising of set pieces, corner kicks and penalty shoot-outs has been satisfactorily addressed.

New tactics and play formations have been introduced to give the team more play options. My initial assessment of the situation of the team gives me a huge dose of optimism about the chances of the team at the world cup.


Friendly Matches

Black Stars vs. Austrian Select side

The first friendly match was played against a select side in Austria. We lost 1-0. Without giving excuses for our defeat, I think our team had not trained together sufficiently enough for the match.

It was however a good awakening for us to step up our preparation. We certainly took the defeat in good faith.



Black Stars vs. Turkey

Our second trial match was against the Turkish national team. It was our first trial match that saw the Black Stars playing with its full compliment since October 2005.

The team paraded all the stars we have. They included Kingston, Paintsil, Pappoe, Kuffour, Mensah, Eric Addo, Essien, Otto Addo/Muntari, Asamoah/Pimpong, Amoah/T.Menson.

The Turkish side was equally flamboyant. They paraded their first team. It was mostly a youthful and promising side. The team included the goal machine of Fenerbache, Tunjai, a team mate of Stephen Appiah.

Tunjai is the most consistent scorer for the Turkish national team. He scored a hat trick when Turkey beat Switzerland 4-2 in their infamous world cup qualifying match in November 2005.

He scored on 24th May 2006 when Turkey drew 2-2 with Belgium in Genk, Belgium. Apart from Tunjai, the Turks featured their best player, 17 year old Nuri Shahin of Borussia Dortmund. The duo were a regular threat to our defence in the match.

The Altintop brothers of Schalke 04 were a delight to watch. The Turks played very well with their sweet passing game and inter positional changes.

No doubt they placed third in the last world cup in South Korea 2002. It is just regrettable that a team of their calibre and stature could not qualify for the 2006 world cup.

The Black Stars played against such a formidable opposition in the Turks. For the first time in several years, I saw the display of artistry and fluid Ghanaian football especially in the second half. The level of commitment and seriousness was very high.

The spirit of nationalism and patriotism in the team was epitomized in Stephen Appiah. Coach Doya played an entirely new formation with Eric Addo playing very well in defensive midfield thus easing space for Essien to play a more offensive role.



The free role assigned Appiah brought the best out of this nationalist fighter. He played like a wounded lion which had identified its assailant.



The attack was enigmatic especially Amoah. They will need a few more matches to sharpen their weaponry. The defence played under less pressure because of the formidable midfield.



We need to do some work to improve the situation in the lateral defence. Kingston gives the post an impressive presence with his huge frame and excellent performance. I doff my hat for the team for the good show against Turkey.



The match against Turkey was significant in several respects. It was the first time that we played with our full compliment since the qualification to the world cup.



It gave the technical team an opportunity to assess individual players and the entire team and determine the state of our preparedness for the world cup.



The match re-ignited hope in the team and gave our teaming fans some food for thought about our chances at the world cup.





Black Stars vs. Jamaica



The team arrived in London Standsted airport on Sunday 28th May 2006 and
played Jamaica on 29th May 2006.



After the match the team moved to a resort called Champneys Health Resort for intensive training up to 3rd June.



The team leaves London again for Edinburgh on 3rd June plays South Korea on 4th June 2006 and returns to Wurzburg for preparation towards the Italy match on 12th June.



The Black Stars beat Jamaica 4-1. The team showed an improved performance over the Turkey match. There was more team work, commitment and dedication to the national cause. I believe we are on course.





Post Reggae Boyz game



After the match the team moved to a resort called Champneys Health Resort for intensive training up to 3rd June.





Champneys is an ideal camp for any team. It has a good training pitch, gym, swimming pool and other facilities.



It has previously hosted the national teams of England and Brazil. It has served as a pre season training camp for Manchester United, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Manchester United, Athletico Madrid, and many others.

I need to acknowledge the contribution of our sponsors and donors to the Black
Stars campaign at the world cup.



They include Gold Fields Ghana Limited - headline sponsors, Areeba, CCTC, Guinness Breweries Limited, Puma, Ecobank Ghana, Ghana link, and others. We thank you all for supporting the Black Stars.





Reception in Austria, Germany and United Kingdom



Ghanaians every where are very passionate about the Black Stars. The reception accorded the team in Austria was very impressive. Although I got there late the reports I received were very favourable.



The then Leader of Delegation Mr. Awuah Nyamekye gave me a good account of the level of hospitality and friendship shown the team in Austria.



At the airport in Klagenfurt to see off the team Ghanaians from all over Austria gathered at the airport to show their moral support and goodwill towards the team.



The highlight of the team’s departure was the display of Ghanaian culture and traditional dances at the airport. Okomfo a.k.a. Gbewa Bisa Goma, a popular Ghanaian performer treated the team to a rare show in Klagenfurt.



He became an instant hero among the players. I can liken this humours to a man called Langerbell, the famous performer and supporter of Great Olympics.



If the reception accorded the team in Austria was commendable, the one accorded the team in Dusseldorf, Dortmond and Wurzburg were phenomenal. We were received to a tumultuous welcome by a FIFA welcome team.



All the major media houses including CNN and Reuters were there to welcome the Black Stars.



The team was driven to its hotel in Dortmond where another expectant Ghanaian crowd had converged to welcome the team. The reception at Wurzburg was historic.



The Black Stars were the guests of the Lord Mayor of the city, Dr. Pea Beckerman.



The entire delegation was the special guest of this year’s African Festival held in Wurzburg.



The lord major hosted the team at a reception in her palace. We are grateful to the people of Wurzburg for being good hosts.



The reception given the team in the United Kingdom was equally phenomenal.





Coach Doya’s Interview with Sport Bild



The head coach of he black stars, Mr. Ratomir Dujkovic allegedly stirred controversy when he granted an interview to Sport Bild, a German newspaper. In the said interview, he alleged that:



i. After the Nations Cup in Egypt, the Government wanted him dismissed from his post.



ii. He was also reported to have alleged that Black Africans were indisciplined. Their mentality was different from Europeans and South Americans.



iii. Ghanaians had been so ungrateful that after qualifying the team to its first ever world cup, people had soon forgotten and were calling for his head. The disappointment was so great that he did not feel like training the team any longer.



The Football Association was unaware of this interview. Our attention was drawn to it by some concerned Ghanaians who had read the newspaper and/or excerpts of the interview in other media.



We considered the allegations as being very serious as the Coach allegedly sought to impugn the integrity and cultural heritage of Black Africans.



We were worried that if the allegation that the coach did not feel like coaching the team was true, then wherein lies the justification for his continued association with the team.



Accordingly, I immediately convened an emergency meeting of the Management of the FA, the Black Stars and the Coach to find out more about the interview so we could decide on what to do.



The issues as clearly stated above were put to him for his responses. He responded as follows:



i. He said that he had been told that the Government wanted him out after the Nations Cup.



That allegation could not been substantiated as it became apparent that no Government or an accredited agent thereof communicated that position to him At best, it was a rumour.



We pointed out to him that it was irreconcilable for the Government to demand his dismissal when on the eve of the team’s departure to Austria the President of the Republic pledged his unequivocal support for him. He obviously saw the folly in that rumour.



ii. Coach Doya denied that he described Black Africans as being indiscipline. He said he was misrepresented.



According to Doya, he told the reporter that when he assumed office as coach of the Black Stars the problem of discipline was pervasive in camp.



He had to stamp his authority and institute measures to stamp it out of the Black Stars. He cited the disciplinary rod that was hit at Sammuel Osei Kuffuor as a demonstration of his commitment to discipline.



His mention of Africans but not Black Africans was in relation to the absence of facilities for football development. He concluded that the reporter probably misunderstood him and merged the two issues for inexplicable reasons.



iii. On the third issue, Doya explained that indeed he was frustrated by comments and insults heaped on him by Ghanaians after the Nations Cup in Egypt but as a professional he would never walk out of his contract.



He will continue to train the team up to the end of his contract. What he said was that after the expiry of his contract in December 2006, he may or may not be with the team.





Throughout the discussion, Doya insisted that he had been misrepresented.



After the meeting I wrote to him to state his explanations in writing. We are not in the position to deny or confirm the two diametrically opposed positions of the coach.



In the event of any doubt, it is only fair to give the Coach the benefit of the doubt. It will be unfair to judge the coach without giving him the right to a hearing.



Having given him a hearing which hearing evoked a real doubt about the authenticity of the interview, the FA will presume the innocence of the coach until we are able to lay hands on any compelling evidence that will implicate him.



Let us keep supporting Ghana.

Cheers!!!



1 June 2006