Soccer-Ghana to contest CAF
Executive position
Soccer-Foreign Based
players are more respected - Ibrahim
Soccer-Ghana to contest
CAF Executive position
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 January
Alhaji Nurudeen Jawula, chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) said on Wednesday that Ghana would qualify to contest elections to the CAF executive committee next year.
Speaking to the GNA Sports, the GFA Chairman said membership of the Executive committee has been zoned into various regions on the continent for specific periods and that it will be the turn of Ghana's group to fill a position.
He intimated that candidates will have to be nominated by their respective countries to vie for the seat and Ghana stands the chance to triumph because of the excellent relationship that the GFA has courted with other Football Associations in the sub region.
Alhaji Jawula said the GFA has the confidence of the top hierarchy of CAF and it will be appropriate if a Ghanaian gets the nod to be part of the decision making process on football on the continent.
On his tenure as GFA chairman, he said he has done his duty to the best of his ability and would like to be judged by history.
"I have served the country on the local and international fronts conscientiously and I have no regrets what so ever".
The GFA chairman said the most challenging aspect of the office is dealing with the clubs because while some are straight forward, others always pursued their hidden agenda and made the work cumbersome.
"I have tried as much as possible to remain neutral by delegating the making of some decisions to the various committees.
"My greatest determination when I took office was to put Ghana back on the international map and I feel fulfilled that a healthy relationship now exists between us and CAF while we enjoy the goodwill of FIFA".
He said he has opened up the GFA to the media as much as possible to publicise its activities and educate the masses to push the game forward and he is happy that our chances of qualifying to a World Cup are brightest this time around.
He assured Ghanaians that every thing is on course towards the Black Stars victory in Kinshasa on Sunday and against Liberia in Accra on January 27.
"The technical team is busy with the boys and we have concluded logistics and travel arrangements and with Allah on our side, we shall conquer".
Alhaji Jawula said he enjoys an excellent relationship with the players and his colleagues on the GFA but regretted that some of the board members have become passive lately.
The GFA chairman attributed the aloofness of some of the board members to declarations they had made to succeed him.
He said he still has the loyalty of Mr Sylvester Mensah, Mr Worlanyo Agrah and Mr Bram Larbi and since they form a quorum, they take decisions in the interest of the game.
On why many people declared their intentions to contest elections to his position, Alhaji Jawula said the GFA chairmanship is perceived by many as a high profile and glamorous job without regard to the challenges entailed in it.
Asked if he would bid for a second term if nominated, he said he is discussing the issue with his family and would make his intentions known at the appropriate time.
GRi…/
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Soccer-Foreign Based
players are more respected - Ibrahim
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 January 2001
Razak Ibrahim, a member of the Black Satellites has said although much is being done to improve football in the local scene, playing in Europe is still the best.
"Those who play in Europe are more respected than our local counterparts."
He said much as they would love to stay in Ghana and enjoy local dishes and the warm weather, they are compelled to leave not just for monetary gains, but also because the best facilities are found there,' he added.
In an interview with the GNA in Accra on Tuesday, the 18 year-old said the only difference between the local players and the foreign ones are their good facilities and good salaries, which always put them ahead of those in Africa.
He said apart from Goldfields and Dawu Youngsters, who have managed to get their own stadiums, a club like Hearts of Oak still lacks a good training field despite its 89 years of existence.
Playing in mid-field, Razak described his year's stay at Empoli as challenging.
'Being the only African among them, I worked hard to earn more respect as an African and in so doing I have become the number one among my teammates.
Razak said his dedication and hard work earned him promotion to the senior side in June, this year.
He expressed the desire to renew his contract when it expires next year.
A member of the 1999 Starlet squad, he said he is ever prepared to honour invitations to play for his nation.
He advised young players to maintain discipline, which he said most them lack.
Asked about his plans for the future, Razak declared, "I have no immediate plans, but since I am still young and strong, I think I will continue playing and leave the rest to God."
GRi…/
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