No return for Kevin, Muntari

Ghana Football Association (GFA) has insisted that ‘bad boys’ Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Ali Muntari remain banned and would not be allowed to return to the Black Stars anytime soon, despite recent overtures and an indication by the midfield duo that they are ready for another comeback into the national team.

Following the Stars’ poor start to the World Cup campaign, after being held to a scoreless draw by the Cranes of Uganda, there has been a clamour for Avram Grant to recall the two players to strengthen his team ahead of the November 13 clash with Egypt in Alexandria.

The Las Palmas FC star, Boateng, who last featured for Ghana more than two years ago after being sacked from the Stars camp during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, indicated in a recent interview with CCTV Africa that he would fancy a returned to the Stars to play his third consecutive FIFA World Cup.

“It’s every player’s dream to play in the World Cup. If there would be a chance to play in a third World Cup in my career – not many players get the chance to play in three World Cups – I won’t say no,” Boateng admitted in the interview.

However, a member of the FA’s Executive Committee told the Graphic Sports yesterday that the two controversial players would not be allowed to gate-crash another World Cup campaign because they remain banned by the FA.

“There’s no way they are coming back. That won’t happen,” said the FA official on condition of anonymity.

“Kevin and Sulley were banned indefinitely by the Executive Committee of the FA and it is only that body that can overturn the ban.

“We must also not forget that the Government’s White Paper on the Justice Dzamefe Commission report recommended that the two players be banished from the Black Stars to maintain team discipline,” added the FA official.

On June 7 this year, the FA announced it had received an apology letter from Muntari (who is currently out of contract), expressing regret for his conduct at Brazil 2014 and declaring his readiness to return to the national team anytime he was recalled.

In 2013, Boateng gate-crashed Ghana’s World Cup party when he featured only in the Stars’ final World Cup qualifier against Egypt in Alexandria, having embarked on a self-imposed exile for two years.

 Ironically, despite being kicked out of the Stars camp during the World Cup campaign in Brazil, Boateng maintains his innocence and says his conscience remains clear.

“There were people who had a problem with me and I don’t know for what reasons I got kicked out.

“They had their reasons; they made them [allegations] up. I think it was not the right decision because I didn’t do anything wrong to be kicked out,” added Boateng, who has hit a rich vein of form for his Gran Canaria side and scored four goals in eight Spanish La Liga matches

“Before this happens, we need to have a lot of talks because I don’t want to go back in a bad spirit.”