Like many of my football loving compatriots, I still can't believe the Tom Foolery and Bill F*ckery that transpired in the hours leading up to our last group game yesterday, and share the sentiment that the GFA need to clean house ASAP because something in the Peanut Soup isn't clean!
It's bad enough that just days ago, two individuals representing the GFA and FIFA were caught out trying to match fix (as if we'd need the embarrassment or shame!) but, to know that the off-field situation and whispers left over since the 2010 World Cup became so out of hand during this tournament, that the Stars possibly wouldn't have shown up for their last group game and in the end, practically threw it away to a less than mediocre Portugal side, is evidence enough that the seeds of positive change must be sown now and allowed to reap from here on out.
The last time I checked, making people work and not paying them for it was called slavery (or an intern-ship depending on one's views). It doesn't matter how much The Stars normally get paid as footballers because, nobody would ever expect Ronaldo, Messi or even the highly overrated Rooney to make professional appearances or play games without being paid what they are owed as agreed by contracts, in a timely manner so why should that be asked of African players?? Even Ian Wright lost some cool points from me when stating, that the national team of Cameroon "should play just for the love of the game". As if that alone paid his bills, kept a roof over his head and supported extended family or charities...The bottom line is that the (guilty) African Football Associations need to stop trying to exploit young talent and do the right thing by them because they have the goods to deliver and do so when required.
As far as the immediate Black Stars camp is concerned, I also agree that coach Appiah needs to be sacked. He wanted the job, got it and hasn't provided a great return. Personally I could have slapped the taste of Kenkey out of his mouth when his reason for not starting KPB in the first group game, was because he "was waiting until team USA got tired". I mean for real?? Any athlete's speciality above all else is endurance and in a competition of any calibre, you never underestimate your opponent! If he were criticized by any members of the team for having useless strategies, then it was well deserved because newsflash: we lost and drew games we were clearly capable of winning.
Lastly, the firing of Muntari and KPB (for now?) is an obvious deflection tactic and those of us not wearing rose-coloured glasses, can see right through it, given there are more questions than answers; Did the team even have a say in their Brothers being fired? What was said to Muntari why he allegedly slapped an official? What was said to KPB, why his retort was allegedly so vulgar? Why did the GFA agree with Appiah in such haste to let them go? Why was FIFA not brought in to mediate the overall situation before the first game or before such drastic action was taken? Things that make ya go hmmm...
The possibility of two of our best players not representing the nation ever again or not being apart of World Cup 2018 (yes they'd still be young enough to play) is disappointing but, maybe now that the Black Stars are out of this tournament, key players both past (i.e D. Boateng/Tagoe/S. Appiah/Vorsah) and present, will band together and expose those whose heads need to roll once and for all. Either that or we don't have a team until all the wrongs are made right...Prayers up it happens sooner rather than later!
