Ghana’s challenge with football

Before our eyes, the dream of the Black Stars qualifying for the AFCON in Morocco next year has evaporated into thin air.

The Black Stars are out of the qualifiers with our abysmal performance so far in the qualifying games played.

A few years ago, l wrote an article on the decline of our national football team in tournaments.

l advanced several reasons why Ghana, once a football giant in Africa, had become a whipping boy globally and continentally.

Some of the reasons raised in that article were the neglect of juvenile football in the country. Growing up in Tema in the late 80s, l saw the grooming of young talents through clubs such the Colts Football Club, Prisco Mins, Hearts Babies, Young Kotoko, Habour City and others, that impacted positively on our national team.

Players from the teams were drawn to form Ghana's youth teams, which competed in FIFA youth football tournaments.

These teams produced talented players like Barns, Addo, Fameye, Shamo Quaye, Odatey Lamptey and the rest.

Indeed, at an Under 17 World Cup Tournament, teams from Tema produced 90 per cent of the players competing.

These young lads raised the flag of Ghana on the international stage to the delight of citizens. Ghana's all-time great, Abedi Pele, was a product of Colts Football Club.

Due to the total neglect of such clubs in communities by policymakers, we have stopped participating in youth football on the international stage for a long time.

It is worth noting that individuals managed those youth football teams using their own resources, spending on coach fees, transportation for players to and from camping, feeding, and the acquisition of football kit.

These teams played for free, as fees were not charged at match venues.

Owners of such clubs at a point were not able to continue sponsoring the teams, leading to their collapse.

Our football authorities are now relying on already baked footballers with careers in major leagues abroad to make up the Black Stars Team.

No wonder the abysmal performances we are seeing, as these players hardly bond with each other to present a formidable team.

Until we go back to the basics, we shall be relegated to the bottom of international football for a long time.

Asst.Comm.of Customs Mark Kofi Logo (rtd), Tema.