The Ghana Premier league’s game changing potential ...the return of Asamoah Gyan, others, presents the best club sponsorship opportunity to date

Despite the rise in infections of the novel Covid-19 pandemic that is indicating the second wave of the spread of the disease, fortunately, contact sports such as football have been given the green light to resume.

Indeed, the resumption of the country’s top flight football – the Ghana Premier League – that began last weekend could be seen as a sign of a gradual process of economic recovery.

The pundits and connoisseurs of the football fraternity in the country are optimistic of a resounding 2020/21 premier league season as various football supporters are expected to cheer their respective clubs to victory.

The question then is, who wins the trophy? It is too early to ask right? Certainly it is, but it is part of the game; the moment the season begins, fans are very anxious about the success of their various clubs in the campaign.

However, it is sad to note that this time around, football fans and supporters would have to be watching the matches at home on TV until the Covid-19 disease is defeated. However, supporters are expected to give same maximum support that they would have given their players at the stadia whiles watching at home.

One important feature or characteristic of this year’s premier league, is undoubtedly, the return of some leading Ghanaian players from their respective careers abroad, including all time top goal scorer, Asamoah Gyan, and the “young potential”, Sulley Ali Muniru, who are back in the premier league at Legon Cities and Asante Kotoko respectively.

Though this trend is not new, some pundits say that this time, the approach and the personalities involved make it new and exciting to watch them play again in front of their home fans after a long spell abroad.

Indeed, with the return of Asamoah Gyan as the top marksman for Ghana’s elite club, Legon Cities, many pundits and experts in the country’s football corridors have indicated that it would go a long way to raise the business side of the game.

Importantly, one thing that comes to mind is the issue of sponsorship which encompasses branding and the various marketing strategies of the clubs competing in the league, including pitches, nature of administration among others. All these factors help to bring in a deserved lead or title sponsor for the premier league.

Simply put, sponsorship in sport is a business that provides funds to a football (or other sports) team to enable the clubs buy essential assets such as team kits, equipment, training facilities and even travel to and from matches.

In return for this investment, the sponsor is expected to receive extensive advertising across the club, the team kit, in a newsletter or programme, online and so on. This association can prove a great way for businesses to demonstrate good corporate social responsibility and also helps commercially too.

Indeed, having sponsorship funding allows athletes to focus more on the training and production of their sports and reduces stress when it comes to finding money to train and put on events. Sponsorship deals between brands and teams/ athletes are a form of partnership where both brand and team benefit.

Sponsorship is important for football clubs as it would assist to fund necessities to ensure the club can continue to run effectively. Not only does it provide the means for various clubs and team to operate, but it also, on a vanity level, demonstrates that the team is actually operating professionally.

“Having this type of support from a business can take the financial strain off your shoulders, leaving more time for you to focus on performance, training and matches. A sponsorship works both ways, giving a brand great exposure and a football team the means to focus on the sport”, this according to Avec Sport.

Thus, much potential is expected to be brought to play as personalities like Asamoah Gyan in the league could push for better sponsorship deals, that could also enable other clubs to “act” professionally.

Indeed, it is now expected that Asamoah Gyan will take club sponsorship to new levels, by personally offering his brand or product endorsements to companies willing to sponsor Legon Cities, with him being rewarded with a percentage of the sponsorship. Being the most internationally renown player to play in the Ghana Premier League since it was established he has the potential to pioneer this kind of sponsorship arrangement which is common in Europe, providing huge financing for clubs and their most popular players.

If he can pull it off, other such deals could follow, even if with lesser known players and involving smaller sponsorship amounts. But starting it off would be a game changer for the league and the teams that play in it.

Hopefully, the days of Asamoah Gyan changing fortunes on the football pitch are far from over. Indeed, with regards to football development in Ghana, they may just be now beginning.

https://goldstreetbusiness.com/2020/editorial-features/the-ghana-premier-leagues-game-changing-potential/  

Good, Bad & Ugly of the 2018 World Cup

Deschamps has won the World Cup as coach & player 

France emerged Champions of the FIFA World Cup on Sunday after a spectacular 4-2 display over their European counterparts, Croatia in Moscow as Didier Deschamps became one of the few people to win the trophy as both player and coach.

 

The victory was France’s second since they won the tournament in 1998 as host. For many African football fans, they took solace in supporting the Western European nation because of disappointment of African teams during the tournament and notwithstanding, because majority of French players either were born in Africa or have African descent.

The tournament lived up to expectation as it recorded 169 goals, a total of 2.64 per match, but not without some major controversies. Every FIFA World Cup edition since its inception in Uruguay in 1930 has been filled with beautiful memories as well as woeful unforgettable moments, and the just ended tournament in Russia is not an exception. Below are some of them.

Good

One of the good memories of the just ended tournament has been some great goals from equally great players of good quality. Perhaps, Toni Kroos’ last minute goal in Germany’s second group game against Sweden could be one of the best goals in the tournament. Notwithstanding, some notable great players like Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazil’s Philipe Coutinho and Argentina’s Angel Di Maria scored some great goals which sent their respective fans into frenzy and ecstasy.

Aside this, some lesser known players also came to the party. Russia midfielder Dennis Cheryshev scored some jaw dropping goals, two goals in their opening game against Saudi Arabia and the opener against Croatia. Such moments made the world Cup a very beautiful game.

Perhaps, one of the boldest actions that FIFA must commend Croatia for is the expulsion of striker Nikola Kalinic after their first group game against Super Eagles of Nigeria. Reports say the striker refused to come on as a substitute after feigning injury. It added that the player noted he could not play in a game full of black players. Croatia followed and trumpeted FIFA’s rule – “My Game is Fair Play”, and the whole football fraternity must endorse this action.

Statistics of VRA proves the technology was helpful

Technology such Goal Line Technology (GLT) and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) assisted the tournament to be a beautiful game. In France’s group game against Australia, had it not been GLT, the match would have ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Replay shows that Paul Pogba’s goal had crossed the line, and quickly bounced back to play. 

In case fans have forgetting, England’s Frank Lampard scored a decisive equalizer in their quarter-final encounter against Germany. However, replay showed the ball crossed the line, Manuel Neur quickly caught the ball and play was resumed. The goal was disallowed. Some football pundits argued that it was because such a goal was disallowed against a European team which necessitated for swift introduction of GLT.

Finally, performance of host nation –Russia, made the tournament a memorable one. In the last two tournaments in South Africa and Brazil in 2010 and 2014 respectively, performance of host nations were horrible. South Africa failed to qualify from the group whereas Brazil received their first ever heaviest defeat in World Cup history after a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of the Germans in the semi-final. Russia did not disappoint, they did well.           

Bad

For many football fans and pundits, especially German and Japanese supporters, Russia 2018 will remain a nightmare and could linger on in their memories for some years to come.

Since 2006 World Cup in Germany, the winning team had failed to progress from the group in the subsequent tournament. For example, Italy won in 2006, failed to qualify from the group in 2010. Spain won in 2010, failed to qualify from the group in 2014. This year was no exception as defending Champions, Germany were humiliated in similar fashion.

After scoring a late winner against Sweden in their second group game, everyone would put their last bet on Die Mannschaft to make it to the second round. Many believed the German machines will wallop South Korea in their final group game. However it turned out to be the other side of the coin as the Asians scored twice in injury time to send Germany parking. Were you not surprised?

As one Asian team did wonders against Germany, another Asian side did similar wonders against a European power house, but this time it’s for the wrong reasons. Japan scored twice in succession after recess against Belgium and were cruising to their first ever quarter-final. 

It was a moment that shocked the football fraternity as Manager Roberto Martinez could not sit idle and watch his side succumb to a disgraceful defeat. His tactics quickly worked as substitute Marouane Fellaini equalized after Jan Vertonghen had headed home for a consolation. As the game was cruising to extra time, Belgium’s Nacer Chadli scored a “wicked” late injury time winner from a counter attack to put Japanese fans into a teary and wailing mood. Sorry, it’s just football.

Some favourites of the tournament failed to shine. The performance of Spain, Argentina, Portugal, Germany and others were just below the line. For Spain, it was yet another disappointing tournament whiles Germany suffered a “disease” called “World Cup Winning Curse”. 

Germany failed to qualify for last 16

Much was expected from Leonel Messi and Argentina, but the tactics of Jorge Sampaoli seemed ordinary. For many, Messi’s abysmal performance means that is the end of the road for him.

Despite the emergence of technology in football, there were some aspects of horrible officiating. Replay showed that Belgium defender Vincent Kompany went in for a double tackle on Gabriel Jesus in the quarter-final game against Brazil. 

The referee was in contact with VAR, but failed to watch the video incident to enable him take the right decision. Again, Senegal’s Sadio Mane appeared to have been fouled in the box by a Columbia defender in their last group game. Initially, the referee awarded a penalty, but upon consultation with VAR, he changed his mind. These and other events if not addressed properly, could mar the beauty of the game. 

Ugly

For many, it looked as if Liverpool’s goalkeeper Loris Karius appeared in the French camp to give his “colleague” goalkeeper Hugo Lloris some tutorials just before the commencement of the World Cup final. In case you have forgetting, in the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final, Loris Karius made two “crazy” blunders which landed Real Madrid the trophy. 

It was the same fashion Hugo Lloris did on Sunday as Mario Mandzukic scored a consolation after scoring an own goal. The goalkeeper put an unnecessary pressure on his team mates following his blunder as the Croats kept pushing for the third goal.

African teams made another sterling record at the World Cup, but for the wrong reasons. For the first since 1986, there was no African team in the second round of the tournament. This is absolutely disgusting and disastrous for African football. North African Teams such as Egypt and Morocco performed woefully as both placed last in their respective groups. Egypt for instance, failed to get a point in their three encounters.

Swiss duo Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka’s goal celebrations against Serbia did not go down well with the Serbs. Both players have Kosovo and Albanian descents as they “celebrated their goals in their 2-1 Group E win by putting their hands together to form a double-headed eagle similar to the Albanian flag. This national symbol risked inflaming tensions in the Belkans among Serbians – who do not recognize Kosovo’s independence and ethnic Albanians, reports Evening Standard.

The FIFA World Cup has always lived up to expectation. Fans and supporters comported themselves well throughout the tournament. This also contributed to the beauty of the game.

      

   

My finishers are terrible - Bashir Hayford

Bashir Hayford, Coach of Dwarfs

Head Coach of Ebusua Dwarfs Bashir Hayford has expressed disappointments in his team after their 1-1 drawn game against Bechem United on match day five of the premier league played at the Lenclay sports stadium on Saturday.

The match did not live up to expectation as players from both teams failed to create enough chances to warrant the three maximum points.

This poor play, Bashir Hayford noted that he is very disappointed in his players.

"My finishers are terribly not helping me at all. I am happy the second window will be opening soon so I can beef up front with one or two strikers. I am really disappointed", the coach lamented.

Ebusua Dwarfs marksman Solomon Gyasi Okudzeto opened the score when he was played through, with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Bechem United were awarded a spot kick very late in the game and the captain perfectly converted.

The Good, Bad and the Ugly of the 2014 World Cup: African Perspective

Official Mascot

Every FIFA World Cup tournament since its inception in 1930 is filled with beautiful memories as well as woeful unforgettable ones and the just ended World Cup in Brazil was no different.  

For many football pundits and supporters, especially Brazilian fans, the 7-1 demolishing their country suffered at the hands of the Germans, but wait! I don’t mean to remind Brazilians of this nightmare.

However, on the African side, there are equally good, bad and ugly moments at the world cup that will forever be in the history books of world football for generations yet unborn. Here is a look at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Algeria Squad

The Good

For the first time in  
the FIFA World Cup tournament, two African Nations, Algeria and Nigeria qualified to the second round of the global football fiesta. 

These countries were given the dog chance of progressing from the group, but they defied the odds and made their respective countries and the African continent proud again at the world cup. 

Algeria achieved this feat for the first time whiles Nigeria was making it the second time to have qualified to the next round since 1998.

Again, the thrilling and exciting match between the Ghana and Germany which FIFA rated it as the best match in the tournament will forever be in the minds of Ghanaians. Had it not been some selfish play, the Black Stars would have gotten the maximum points in that crucial encounter.

The real Bruce Lee

The Bad 

Poor defending cost the downfall of African teams who participated at the World Cup. Since none of the teams was making its debut at the tournament, one would have expected the African teams to have done their home work well before the competition. 

But they entered the tourney with less preparation concerning all departments of the game, especially their defensive set up.

Even Cameroon was fortunate to have benefited from two “legal” goals which were disallowed by the referee in their opening game against Mexico, but they still managed to lose the match by a lone goal.

On the side of the Elephants of Ivory Coast, many football connoisseurs were hoping that this time around they would be able to qualify to the second round for the first time. But again, they were in the news for the wrong reasons. 

Could this possibly be the end of the team’s golden generation who failed to win a silver ware?

Again, after many warnings thrown at the door steps of the Black Stars by the Coach of USA Jurgen Klinsmann, Ghanaians thought it was just a mere talk coaches are fond of firing to their opponents. Indeed the Americans deserved the victory. 

On the field of play, their players were more determined and hungry for victory more than our gallant Black Stars. You could be yearning for the Black Stars to beat USA in future tournaments to wipe away the disappointment they caused the nation. It is possible, but this time football has changed. 
Either than that the Brazilians would not have suffered two defeats in a row… sorry! I promised not to go there again.

Ghana's "Jet Li", Muntari shows
USA player, Jones where power lies

Ugly

I think with respect to this, the Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez appeared in the Ghana camp. 

However, this time it was for the right reasons. Apart from biting, Suarez is also noted for using his hand on the field of play. Maybe he might have taught Kwasi Nyantakyi how to use his hands in times of chaos outside the pitch. 

In case you have forgotten, GFA president used his hand to save Mr. Moses Parker from further harm when Sulley Muntari threw a glass at him (Parker). Ugly scene righ; but Mr. Nyantakyi might have taken his lessons seriously from Suarez.

Every Ghanaian knew that we had taken footballers to play at the world cup to make our country proud again. But we never knew there was “Bruce Lee” or better still "Jet Li" among the players. 

Moses Parker is also noted to giving punches without missing the target. Can I call him Van Damme? How interesting and disappointing it was. To some people, it was fun to them because it was a long time they saw well cultured gentlemen exchanging series of punches to the extent that one finished the first round of the fray with blood oozing from his mouth.

Moses Parker, Ghana's Van Damme

Who said the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon were the only African side who disgraced themselves at the world cup? The sending of $3m over the pacific to Brazil, the exchange of punches between “Jet Li” and “Van Damme” and the appearance fees saga were not the only events that marred Black Stars Journey in Brazil. 

But over 200 Ghanaian football fans who have refused to return home and are seeking the Brazilian government to grant them asylum further put Ghana in a bad spotlight.

Here at home, we are encountering similar incidents. Not all of us supported that football retreat organized under the auspices of the Minister of Sports Hon. Mahama Ayariga. 

But come to think of it! The confrontation between Kwasi Nyantakyi and Harry Zakour during the football retreat points to the fact that we have still not learnt our lessons after disgracing our beautiful country in Brazil.

Upon all these development, I still plead that we must rally behind the Black Stars to succeed in future tournaments.          

AFRICAN PERFORMANCES AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP

Many soccer fans on the African continent will find it difficult to understand why the performance of African teams at the FIFA world cup has been nothing good to write about since its inception in 1930 where Uruguay hosted and won the maiden tournament.

Prior to the era where FIFA only gave a single slot to now where the African qualifying region has secured five slots, no African country has made it to the semi-finals stage. The story has always been “we nearly made it”.

In the 1990 world cup, Cameroon nearly secured a semi-final ticket in their quarter-final game against England, but two penalties awarded to the latter dashed the dreams of the Africans. Many Africans were not enthused by the two penalties awarded to the English, but a clear view of the situation suggests the referee was right. 

However, four years later it was a disaster for the Indomitable Lions as they failed to qualify from the group.

In 2002, The Teranga Lions of Senegal took Africa and the world by storm as they emerged runners-up in that same year Africa cup of Nations. They defied all odds to beat the then defending champions France by a lone goal in the 2002 FIFA world cup which was co-hosted by South Korea-Japan. 

Again, the story still remained; Senegal nearly made it to the semi-finals. In their quarter finals game against Turkey, the Teranga Lions scored but was disallowed only for their hearts to be broken in the last minute of second half of extra-time.

In 2006 world cup in Germany, Ghana chalked success in the football circles as being the only African side to be part of the second round. 

Again, as the African story at the world cup had remained; the mighty hand of Suarez denied the Black Stars for semi-final berth which could have been the best ever performance by any African team at the 2010 world cup in South Africa.

As the 2014 FIFA world cup in Brazil is ongoing, the same song is being sung by Africans. One of the main reasons responsible for our inability to doing well is poor defending and lack of concentration. 

In the Black Stars game against the United States, bad defending contributed for our defeat. Ivory Coast’s second goal they conceded against South American side Columbia is also as a result of this. Algeria too cannot be ruled out from bad defending.

The bane of Cameroon at the 2014 FIFA world cup is as a result of indiscipline among players and lack of cohesion. It was disappointing when Totternham Hotspur's defender Assou Ekoto head butted his team mate Benjamin Mukandjo after the Croatian game where they lost by 4-0. 

This coupled with the silly red card attracted by Barcelona midfielder Alexander Song really cost his team.

It has always been the mindset of many African players that no African team had ever been part of the last four; thus they enter the competition aiming to go to semi-finals. Argentine soccer legend Diego Amando Maradona said in an interview that he had a dream: to play at the world cup and to win it. Such mentality clearly surpasses the mindset of African.

Winning the world cup by any African side is achievable, but we have to put our houses in order first before thinking of such a dream. We should be ready to deal with indiscipline in our teams, bad defending, disunity and the will power to assign the head coaching job to an African as few nations have done. This will open the way for African teams to perform at the world cup.

LET’S CRITICISE KWASI APPIAH CONSTRUCTIVELY

Black Stars Coach, Dr. Kwasi Appiah

Many soccer fans, pundits and connoisseurs of the football fraternity heavily poured their hearts out on the head coach of the Black Stars Dr. James Kwasi Appiah and the technical team after they lost their opening FIFA world cup 2014 game to the United States as most believed the coach’s poor selection contributed to the defeat.

Some criticisms from a section of Ghanaian journalists and various soccer analysts after the match were basically out of contest as some said they could even manage the team better than the coach.

Criticisms are good, but doing it constructively and in a healthy manner enables him to evaluate his shortfalls, learn from his previous mistakes to enable him come out with something unique afterwards. Baseless criticisms such as the post match comments bring the morale of the team down; have psychological disadvantage on the boys and subsequently give the opponents a competitive edge.

However, our second group G encounter against the DFB- Team of Germany clearly sent strong signals to his critics which has vindicated his capacity as being a good coach; hence, the need to criticize him constructively which will help to bring the best from him.

He might have made some tactical mistakes in our first game, but he was quick to rectify the situation before the German match which has earned the country respect. Losing to the United States of America should not be a worry to Ghanaians because some football power houses such as the defending champions Spain are already out of the competition with a game to spur.

At this crucial point, what the head coach needs most is our total support and encouragement considering that he put on a different attire during the second match as compared to that of US where he worn suit. This situation suggests clearly that there was pressure on him to win the game. Another record would have been made if the Stars had beaten the Germans as Algeria remains the only African side to beat them 2-1 at the world cup.

Already, the west and even our local media are somehow silent on the records chalked by our danger man Asamoah Gyan at the world cup. He is the only African player now to score in three successions at the world’s most prestigious tournament and has also equaled the record set by legendary Cameroonian star, Roger Milla for scoring 5 world cup goals.

Majority of soccer fans I spoke with after the match admitted that the Black Stars played exceptionally well and were unlucky not to have had a win. They were also optimistic the team would qualify for the second round and progress to make the nation proud once again.