President of the GFA, Kwesi Nyantakyi on Thursday gave a presentation on leadership when the first business conference on African football opened in Ghana.
Below is the full text of his presentation.
A PAPER PRESENTED BY MR. KWESI NYANTAKYI, PRESIDENT, GHANA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION AT THE AFRICAN FOOTBALL EXECUTIVE SUMMIT, MAY 26, 2011 IN ACCRA ON THE TOPIC: “ENSURING EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICAN FOOTBALL IN THE 21ST CENTURY”.
Mr. Chairman Distinguished Invited Guests Fellow Participants Media men and women Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning to you all. It is a privilege for me to be invited as a speaker at the first AFRICAN FOOTBALL EXECUTIVE SUMMIT right here in Accra.
I wish to thank the organisers for the invitation as well as the conception of a wonderful idea which will become the reference point for the discussion and development of far reaching policy initiatives for the promotion and development of football in Africa.
I have been asked to speak to the topic ENSURING EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICAN FOOTBALL IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
My presentation will be based on my limited experience as head of an Africa Football Association. I have also acquired some experience with my recent positions on WAFU and CAF.
WHAT IS LEADERSHIP
Leadership references the activity of leading. Leading is something you do and not the position you hold. Your position may require you to lead but it is possible to hold a leadership position without doing any actual leading.
FIVE (5) traits of leadership have been identified as Honesty, Forward-leading, Competence, Inspiration and Intelligence.
In his book, Principle-Centered Leadership, Stephen Coney states that leadership focuses more on people than on things, on the longer term rather than the short term; on values and principles rather than activities; on mission, purpose and direction rather than on methods, techniques and speed.
African football has come a long way from the days of primarily being amateur to now being a professional venture serving as a means of livelihood for various families on the continent.
Leadership can be categorized into two: Transformational and Transactional leadership respectively.
Transformational leadership includes the following:
• Oriented towards meeting long term goals without compromising human values and principles • Aligns internal structures and systems to reinforce over reaching values and goals • proactive catalytic and patient • Separate cause and symptoms • Identifies and develops new talent
On transactional leadership the following can be considered.
• Build on man's need to get a job done and to make a living • short term and hard data oriented • follows and fulfills role expectation by steering to work effectively within current systems. • Supports structures and systems that reinforce the bottom line. Maximize efficiency and guarantee short term results.
Whether it is transactional or transformational, effective leadership is a quality that is very much in demand, especially in situations were mediocrity is the least desired.
GOVERNANCE
Governance is a Greek verb which means “to steer”. GOVERNANCE relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or a part of Management and leadership processes. These processes and systems are typically administered by a body called the Governor or Government.
In Football Management, Governance relates to consistent management, cohesive policies, guidance process and decisions for a given area of responsibility.
The bedrock of an effective system of organisation for football is good corporate governance. Corporate Governance is the set of processes, customs, policies, laws and institutions affecting the way a corporate body or organisation is directed, administered or controlled. Corporate Governance further examines the relationships among the many stakeholders involved and the goals for which the corporation is governed.
A Football Association has several stakeholders and partners. They include the Government, the Clubs, Referees, Coaches, Doctors, Physiotherapist, Managers, Administrators, the Media, the General Public, just to mention a few. Each and every one of the stakeholders has a relationship with the Football Association and other stakeholders. It is a network of inter-relationships and intra-relationships, statuses and roles.
Effective Leadership and Governance hinges on nine (9) important and related thematic areas. These are:
a. The Legal Framework b. Accountability and Transparency c. Sporting Integrity of Football d. Development of a physical Infrastructural for Football Management e. Human Resource Needs of Football f. Financial Viability of Football g Cooperation of Government h Marketing and Sponsorship i, Agenda Setting j. Media and Public Relations
The Legal Framework
For any society to leave in a harmonious atmosphere, there should exist some kind of rules and regulations.
For football to be governed effectively, its regulations and statutes should be respected to its zenith. This is even more effective when members of the association are furnished with copies of the rules and regulations to determine their ways of dealing with football related activities.
Also these rules and regulations should be implemented devoid of fear or favour. One of the main issues militating against the administration of football in Africa is the quest of individual to use laws only when they favour them and refuse to abide by regulations which might go against them.
To curb this scenario members of the association should be provided channels in which they could air their views. Thus the upward and downward communication approach should be used where the top feeds the down and vice versa.
A legal regulatory framework is the basis for an effective system of leadership and governance for football. From FIFA through the Confederations (CAF, AFC, Concacaf, Oceania, Comnibol and UEFA) through Zonal Unions to National Associations, rules and regulations are the substructure on which all other policies, programs and plans for football management rest.
Rules for Football Management must be precise, clear and devoid of ambiguity, comprehensive and relevant to the needs, wants, expectations and changing demands, tastes and preferences of all stakeholders.
Accountability and Transparency
Effective governance involves regular periodic submission of reports on stewardship to stakeholders. These reports are usually financial reports, activity reports, budget, proposals for amendment of existing regulations and introduction of new regulations etc. Accountability also requires the presence of internal and external procedures for auditing systems.
Football clubs are usually requested to submit yearly Financial Statements by the Football Association.
Sporting Integrity of football
We must ensure that the 4 key pillars of football stand out as the fundamentals of the game. They are coaching, refereeing, sports medicine and administration. Modern football development must strive to achieve the following :-
i. investment in quality driven youth development programmes; ii. support education and encourage non-football education of youth players iii. Ensure a good programme for medical care for players iv. Put in place a program for a regular training and re-training of coaches, administrators, medical staff and referees v. Uphold the tenets of fair play on and off the pitch of play
Development of a physical Infrastructure for football management
We will require an approved playing ground/facility for training and matches where the security and safety of spectators, officials, and the media are guaranteed.
Human Resource Needs of football
Football on the pitch is only the by-product of several efforts made off the field of play. The physical shell for effective governance is an office with modern gadgets and equipment. The offices must also be manned by skilled staff in management, marketing, accounting, media, protocol etc.
Financial Viability of Football
From the days when football was managed as a pastime job or recreational activity to the modern trend when it’s managed as a business entity, several considerations including the financial viability of football associations and clubs has taken frontline position. Its incumbent that steps are taken to improve the financial capabilities of Football Associations and clubs' transparency and credibility, institute measures for the protection of owners, creditors and financial partners and provide guidelines for a definition of financial reporting relationships, conflicts of interests accountability and good governance.
It is also important to consider measures for ensuing economic efficacy and profitability of football.
In my association, amendments are made to regulations and statutes at almost all our congresses depicting how rules and regulations are given the necessary recognition and democracy given the top most priority.
Co-operation of Government
This is a contentious issue within developing countries especially in Africa where football is the opium of the masses. Football associations should have an effective collaboration with the government and this should be devoid of interference which has become the source of conflict. In sub Saharan Africa Governments fund national football team activities because the various football associations are not financially independent. There should exist a cordial relationship with the various Governments without power struggle as to “who is more powerful”.
Marketing and sponsorship
Football Associations should develop innovative ways of attracting cooperate bodies to support their programmes and activities. In order to achieve this, the various football associations in Africa should be transparent in their dealings, provide stringent measures and punishments against corruption and embezzlement in order to win the trust of the corporate world as Trustworthiness in marketing is very paramount.
Agenda Setting (vision)
Vision is a vital leadership component, leaders drive motivation to lead. Experience and intelligence provide the capacity to realize the underlisted factors; define what their organization should strive to achieve within a stipulated time. Audience could recall the Agenda 2010. The vision should be articulated devoid of ambiguities.
A formulation of strategic visions that specifies the mode in which the vision would be attained. Implementation of the Agenda/Vision is pre-requisite for leadership success. A vision that is not implemented remains only a dream. The effective leader takes steps to ensure that the agenda is translated into specific action.
It is worthy to note that the vision can not be achieved alone but with the collaboration of managers, clubs, club officials, government and subordinates etc.
Effective implementation of agenda and vision can be summerised as follows:
• establishment of structures • recruitment, capacity building of personnel for the agenda • motivation and remuneration for personnel • effective management of information • team building • adaption to change
Media and Public Relations
Modern Football Management requires rules and regulations on the relationship between and the Football Association and the Media and public. The media ought to receive prompt, timely and relevant information on the programmes and activities of football.
Conclusion
Africa abounds in football talent. Its incumbent on all of us to adopt the right leadership and governance modules to raise the level of football in Africa from the current level of deprivation, neglect and a lack of adequate financial and material resources to one of excellence, efficiency and resourcefulness.
I have the conviction that when all the issues discussed (supra) are strictly enforced, African football could reach a stage comparable to the western world.
Thank you.