Start youth development for national teams — Rev. Osei Kofi

Former Ghana international, Rev. Osei Kofi, has slammed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for focusing more on the business aspects of football rather than developing the national teams. 

He also expressed concern over the lack of attention given to the Ghana Premier League (GPL), which was hindering its potential to be recognised as one of Africa's top leagues.

The retired footballer claimed that the President of the GFA did not prioritise being with the Black Stars during their trip to Libya for the AFCON qualifier against Sudan. 

Instead, the FA president chose to travel to Germany for Under-20 friendly matches, leaving Ghana's chances of qualifying for the upcoming tournament in Morocco in jeopardy after the return league.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic last Thursday, Rev. Osei Kofi disclosed that many retired footballers felt disconnected from the Black Stars because they were often overlooked in national team appointments. 

Talent development

He also directed the GFA to focus on developing young talent and the Ghana Premier League to build a strong football culture across all national teams, rather than merely selling players to unknown clubs abroad.

He also added that the GPL was very attractive in the past as it served as the main reservoir or pool for Black Stars Players, adding that “this is not the case any longer. We cannot brag about that anymore and it is no longer attracting talented players again”.

In his view, former players should take up the football administration jobs.

"The Black Stars seem lifeless to me. Just as only those who have attended law school can practice law, the same principle should apply to football administration. Ironically, those currently in charge of our football don't have a deep understanding of the game; they prioritise the business aspects instead and forget about the GPL and other developmental projects,” he said. 

Misplaced priorities

The former Asante Kotoko player criticised GFA President, Kurt Okraku, for prioritising his football agency over the core responsibilities of the football association.

He argued that this has negatively impacted the performance of Ghana's national teams, including women's football.

"The president of the football association was absent during Ghana's match against Sudan last Tuesday. Instead, he chose to focus on his football business outside the Black Stars game, leaving the management of the Black Stars to others. If he wants to pursue a career as a football agent, he should resign from his position as the president of the association and dedicate himself fully to that path," he advised.

Reflecting on the peak of Ghanaian football, the AFCON winner expressed his disappointment with the current football administration for allowing it to decline to this level.

However, he called on all stakeholders to come together and work towards reviving Ghana football and reigniting the passion it once inspired.

"During our peak, we were referred to as the Brazilians of African football. Now, having failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations in Morocco, we’ve experienced a decline. However, I believe this will serve as an important lesson for us to improve before the next qualifiers. It's truly a shame," he concluded.