A chat with the ace Sports Journalist Yaw Ampofo Ankrah reveals that he is confident about the future of football in Ghana if daring changes are implemented now.
Back from Europe after shooting segments of an upcoming documentary on Ghana football, the former Joy FM, BBC and Supersport reporter has stated that any football vision for Ghana must be daring and ambitious or not at all.
“Let’s not for a moment assume that taking Ghana football from the mess it currently finds itself, to the glossy, well packaged, branded and enticing multi billion industries in Italy, Spain or England cannot be a reality”.
The English Premier League for example did not just “happen” by accident.
NO….it was and continues to be a master plan put together by men and women over two decades and a half ago.
But there were huge sacrifices and big casualties before, during and after the English football revolution.
The question is; are we in Ghana ready and willing to take that leap of faith ?
Politically, Ghana football has been a golden fleece and a poisoned chalice at the same time.
Nobody quite knows how to tame the great beautiful beast that brings so much unbridled ecstasy and despair in equal measure.
Not governments, not politicians, not media, not football administrators nor the players and certainly not the media whose position as critical stakeholders is undisputed.
Case Study: The EPL
So how was it done in England; where hooliganism, dull football and grey theatres projected what was becoming a constant two horse race between the Reds from Merseyside and the Red Devils from Old Trafford?
English football was too predictable and losing ground to it’s European neighbours.
The turning point was when the fans, the taxpayers and the corporate billionaires decided to move in unison with the chant ” We deserve and demand better”
Suddenly, the game was about to change and it was monumental.
TO BE CONTINUED:
Rebranding Ghana Football