Ghana’s Achievements In Sports

Black Satellites, winners of FIFA U-20 world cup in Egypt    

Ghana’s achievements in sports have been tremendous, but many of such attainments are counted as “past glories”. Recent achievements in sports have been less as compared to many years past where money was not even their priority to some athletes, but the reason behind their successes were based on fame, national identity and patriotism.

Ghanaian athletes have won a total of four Olympics medals, three in boxing, and a bronze medal by the under-23 Ghana national football team in 1992. With respect to football, the last time the Black Stars won the nations cup was in 1982 and since then some of or our performances have not been the best as the nation wanted.

The junior national teams such as the Black Starlets have also won some continental and world cup trophies but the most recent chalked by such teams was the FIFA U-20 world cup which was won by the Black Satellites in Egypt in 2009, the first by any African country.

The below shots show some achievements the country has chalked in sports.

Dominic Adiyiah won the Golden Boot 

for scoring 8 goals in U-20 tourney in Egypt

E. Assifuah also won the Golden Boot at

 U-20 world cup in Turkey 2013

Black Stars qualified for its third straight
 world cup after beating Egypt

Clement Quartey (left) won silver in men's

Light Welterweight at 1960 

Olympics in Rome, Italy  

Black Maidens took bronze in FIFA U-1

womens world cup in Azerbaijan   

             Juliana Arko, won 8 medals at African weightlifting
             championships in Morocco, this year.
             Pix: Courtesy graphiconline.com

These and many others, which majority of them are past glories are the successes and achievements chalked by the state even when financial support pushed unto such sporting disciplines are not even. Thus, government and corporate bodies must pay attention to other sporting events in the country to help unearth various talents in the country.

All pictures courtesy via the internet  

Ghanaian Media And Its Role On Sports Development

Kabral Blay-Amihere,
Chairman of the National Media Commission of Ghana

Just like the roles played by various governments to the development of sports in the country, the media can never be left be let out. Both private and public media have contributed immensely towards this area. Sports in the Ghana, especially football, would not have reached this far if we were to have a dormant media in the country. Thus, they need to be commended.

The role of the media on sports is very critical to every country that is seriously about developing sports. The media play such roles by sensitising government, corporate institutions and individuals on the core values  and objectives on sports and the immense importance the nation stands to gain if greater emphasis is placed on developing sports.

The media have again played such roles by educating the listening public on many issues concerning sports in the country. Without them, there will be many events we would not have come to know. Through the media, the audience gets to be abreast with the latest information on sports and many areas on all aspects of human endeavours.

Some Newspapers in Ghana

In the area of football in the country, majority of the media send their sports correspondents to report on the Ghana premier league. Not only in domestic football they are active in, but some of them travel with either the national teams or clubs whenever they engage in continental or inter-continental matches.

However, it seems like the same trend of attention paid to football by administrators is also trending by the Ghanaian media. The media is always seen hyping football matches whiles less attention is given to other sporting disciplines. Even though some media houses also travel outside the country to report when for instance, a Ghanaian boxer engages in a match, majority of them like watching it on television and report to listeners. Such a practice is not helpful to developing Ghana sports as they complain their outfits are financially handicapped to cover the so called lesser known sports.

One area the media must take note of is the fear and panic they put across prior to the start of important football matches. Whiles the players are clam and concentrating on the match ahead, some soccer analysts put unnecessary panic comments which has the potentials of changing the motives of the players. Even though some of such comments may be good, as many “star” players of the opposing team are exposed, the manner they do it is absolutely needless.

The agenda setting of the media must be well structured in drafting media contents for the audience. For instance, some media soccer analysts needlessly criticize coaches for naming certain players and question why some players were not named in the squad. The media can perform such role by criticizing constructively as such a line of criticism will enable the coach to know some of his short falls.

 

A section of GH Media Practitioners

The media must also do away with sensationalism and passion in the discharge of their duties. It is unprofessional for a football commentator to sound disappointed or wail on air if his team is defeated. This profession communicates to diverse groups of audience and it is appropriate to behave professionally on air.

For the development of Ghana sports to a height we will be proud of, it does not lie in the hands of the government or corporate organizations alone. The media also have critical roles to play in realizing the “sports dream” comes to fruition. Even though they are doing well, but their effort need to spread across board which will also benefits many of other sporting events being engaged in the country.

Governments' Contributions To Sports Development In Ghana

The Black Stars won 2 nations cup

under Dr. K. Nkrumah 

All governments since independence era have contributed to the growth of sports well being in the country, to the extent that even during military era, the Black Stars annexed two trophies in 1978 and 1982 to add them to the existing two continental trophies which they won in 1963 and 1965 during the first republic.

Azumah Nelson, who is widely considered as the greatest African boxer ever, rose to fame during a military era starting his amateur boxing career debut in 1979. That is to tell readers that if our military governments had the passion and zeal to support the growth of sports in the country, civilian would follow suit and perhaps, do it much better.

From independence to the early 1990’s, the nation chalked several successes in sports. Such sporting events included football, boxing, hockey and a few. It was not because the players or athletes were given enough money, or had very good logistics and infrastructure, but the leaders, most especially governments inculcated into them a sense of patriotism where each and everyone of the athletes were ready to die for the nation.

The Black Stars won the third nations cup

under Gen. Acheampong

Apart from this, the players and athletes saw their role as service to the nation. One painful thing is that, the Black Stars squad was promised money, house and other incentives to win the 1978 African cup of nations. But after winning it, the promise was never fulfilled up to date. Some football pundits and connoisseurs have even attributed the inability of the team to annex any continental trophy after 31 years because the promise given to the 1978 team has not been fulfilled. Thus, there is no way the Black Stars will ever win any major title again. Whether this spiritual connotation or perhaps assertion is really haunting the team, it’s left for us to decide.

Monies lavished on our national teams started not long ago as governments from the 1990’s saw the need to adequately support the development of sports in the country. But majority of such support has been geared towards football, leaving the rest of the sporting disciplines in shambles.

Past governments and their development to sports

The support of government into sports, especially football was enormous during the 2006 FIFA world cup qualifiers as players and technical staffs received huge financial backing. This support subsequently earned Ghana a world cup berth in Germany 2006 after many decades where the team had failed to participate in the world football party fiesta. Ever since, Ghana has been a major contender at the FIFA world cup; all due to support that various governments' have been major contributors.

The support of governments in developing sports in the country has been tremendous. However, recent comments from the deputy sports minister Joseph Jamin that the government will make sure the Black Stars qualify for Brazil so the score becomes “2-1” in favour of the current government must be condemned. Football should not be administered along side with politics, as the outcome would not be favourable. Football, even in conflict prone areas is used as a unifying medium to bring peace. But governments’ supports on sports must be shared across board.

Prez Mahama is also contributing his quota 

to developing sports in Ghana and was

instrumental on the return of some "exile"

black stars players 

Aside the aforementioned support on part of various governments in developing sports, there are many reforms in the sports sector which needs to be done. Allocating enough money as part of the budget to developing this area will not be bad at all. As many countries are earning enough on sports because they put in enough financial support and are now benefiting from the proceeds, we can also do same. It is not only the responsibility of the government alone nor corporate Ghana. Players who have benefited from sports can also channel some of their resources to help the upcoming ones. This will also go a long way to assisting government to play its roles in sports much efficiently.  

What Hope For Other Sporting Disciplines?

Some GH boxers at training

The future of other sporting disciplines in the country will not be bright if much attention is not focused by way of nurturing good talents from the grassroots in order to prepare them adequately for future competitions.

Such sporting disciplines where some refer to them as “lesser known sports” in the country have greater potentials yet to be tapped. Even though some corporate organizations are in a way contributing their quota for the growth of such sporting events such as tennis, handball, volleyball, boxing and athletics,  their efforts are not enough to sustain the sports. Thus, more needs to be done by all stakes.

Pomasidor, producers of cowbell products in the country has been consistent in sponsoring the national cycling tour. Milo has also done same in sponsoring the Accra marathon since its inception. The reason some sponsors pull out or fail to honour their corporate promise is that they reach on a deal having in mind some special gains. Therefore if those gains are not met immediately, they pull out prematurely leaving the competitors in a mess.

There should be a national policy which seeks to put much attention on the development of sports in the country which will cover all the sporting events aimed at talents searching, nurturing, grooming and given them adequate skills which will prepare them for future competitions.

We should be proactive so we do not just take part in inter-continental competitions just to add to the number, but to win a silver ware. An Argentine 1986 FIFA world cup winner and one of the best players the football world has ever seen, Diego Armando Maradona recently said “I'd a dream: to play in the world cup and win it”. Subsequently, this dream came to pass. If the situation in Argentina then was not favourable, it would have been difficult for him to realize this dream.

Countries like Spain which is one of the best power houses in world football do not only concentrate on football. Either than that, tennis world number 1 Rafael Nadal would not have reached such feet in the history of tennis. The United States of America perform well in football tournaments, yet they are regarded as one of the best in Baseball, tennis, boxing and athletics.They have already put to the ground enough logistics, good trainers and sound financial support to develop all sporting disciplines.

Some GH athletes receiving tutorials

Here in Ghana all the time we hear of the adage “there is no money”, yet enough of it is lavished on football, even that, majority are spent on the Black Stars. The future for other sporting disciplines endowed in the country such as boxing, volleyball, handball, athletics, and others will be bright if enough attention is paid to these sporting area. We have to identify, apart from football, the areas talents abound in the country and give adequate support to develop those identified events. We cannot focus on gymnastics where in the first place, there are no athletes to compete in this area. 

Therefore, there is the need for various stakes such as the government, corporate Ghana and some individuals to put in similar efforts as that given to football in order to raise some potential athletes who will also contribute their part to helping to shape the image of Ghana in the world of athletics because the country’s image on athletics is nothing good to write home about.  

Women’s Football In Ghana

Bronze Winning Maidens

Women’s football in Ghana which started in the early 1990’s has seen less improvement as up to date, there is no corporate sponsor for the women’s football league which started last year December.

After the launch of the Zonal women’s league in 2006, the football fraternity was expecting the kick-off of the women’s league in 2007. The President of Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi had already confirmed that the GFA was still in talks with sponsors for the game and expects a deal to be reached in order to pave way for the commencement of the national women’s league.  

However, this never came to fruition until 4^th December 2012 where the Football Association launched its maiden edition for the league which eventually kicked off on 16 December, 2012. Why such a long period? The various stakeholders have not prioritized women’s football as attention and interest have always been on male national teams.

With respect to international tournaments, even though some level of attention was put on women’s football, several achievements have been chalked by them and notable of them was the feet chalked by the under 17 national team the Black Maidens as they placed third at the FIFA world cup in Azerbaijan last year under the tutelage of Kumasi Asanti Kotoko coach Mas Ud Didi Dramani.

Again the Black Queens have won three silver medals on the continent with two of their players namely Alberta Sackey and Adwoa Bayor winning the women’s footballer of the year awards in 2002 and 2003 respectively. Even when the country has struggled to have a proper structured football league for women coupled with they not given the kind of support and sound financial backing as their male counterparts are entitled to, they still did something for the country.

Champs Hasaacas Ladies

Even with the commencements of the national women’s league last year, the GFA was unable to secure funding for the competition as the association funded the entire competition. This should not have happened if there was sponsorship for the maiden competition which saw southern sector group winners, Hasaacas Ladies defeating Fabulous Ladies from the northern sector 2-1 to be crowned champions of the inaugural Ghana Women’s League competition.

According to a member of the women’s league board Leannier Addy, she stressed that the completion was faced with funds and added there are no laid down structures for the league. If this year will see a similar competition, the GFA has a lot of work to do by way of securing sponsors before the competition starts.

Women’s football in Ghana has received less attention by all stakes involved. If the process is not adequately managed, it will gradually leads to the total collapse of women’s football which will be very difficult to revive.   

'Orphan National Teams'

The Black Maidens

You may be wondering about the title, but that is what currently reflects on the football circles in all our national teams. Most of our national teams are treated just as orphans. Much attention is paid to the Black Stars who until 1982 have brought us nothing than heart attacks and hypertension. This practice has sidelined the rest of our national teams in the corner and at times seen as ‘orphans’ in their ‘biological family”.

The senior national soccer team the Black Stars is believed to be the highest paid national team in the world. They received USD 15,000 as winning bonus when they thrashed their Egyptian counterparts nicknamed The Pharaohs during the first leg of the 2014 world cup play-offs in Kumasi. However, their “twin brothers”, the local Black Stars, were only given a token of USD 300 when they lost 0-1 to Libya in an international friendly just recently.

The Black Stars achievements can never be compared to junior teams such as the Black Starlets and the Black Satellites in the last two decades. But, it is the former who receives majority of financial backing from either the government or the Football Association (F.A).

Knowing that the junior teams always feed the senior team, there was the need for football officials to treat the former the same way the latter is enjoying. With regards to football where we claim is our passion, there are high levels of discrimination among our national teams which should be immediately looked at and address this unacceptable behavior aiming at changing this practice.

With regards to women’s football, the situation is even worse. Even though they performed poorly, the Black Queens were the first of our national senior teams to qualify for a world cup berth in 1999. If they had received the kind of support and sound financial backing their males counterparts received in their first appearance at the 2006 FIFA world cup in Germany, the Black Queens may had also gone far.

Aside this, the Black Maidens won bronze at the 2012 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan where they made their third successive appearance at the finals and the support they received after the tournament can never be matched to the Black Stars quarter-finals feet at the last FIFA world cup in South Africa.

The Black Starlets

The over-concentration on football in the country has resulted in the focus on a single national team leaving the rest to suffer. During black stars matches it is very difficult to even get a ticket as some people keep in possession many of them and at times sell it triple the price tag to others. Yet the stadium will be partially empty when any other national team is playing.  Such a manner of managing national teams is a total disrespect to others who feel the system has deserted them.

Even though the Black Stars have played their parts in putting Ghana’s image on the map of football during inter-continental soccer fiesta, they have in same way brought pains to many soccer loving fans and such pains will linger on for many years to come.  

It will be appropriate for the FA, The Sports Ministry, Government and all stakes in the football fraternity in the country to bring back the “orphans” home and treat them not separately from the Black Stars.