Ben Koufie files nomination for CAF position
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 October 2001 - Mr Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports has blamed sportswriters for the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium disaster which claimed 126 lives.
Speaking at a one-day clinic organised by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for sports journalists on Thursday, the Deputy Minister said the disaster was the culmination of the tension-spiced hype the match received from the media.
He advised participants to dispense with club affiliations in the discharge of their duties and make objectivity their guiding principle because of the power of believability and influence their reports have among the ordinary citizenry.
"Fanatism by sport journalists should be thrown overboard since we are above the ordinary and what we say or write influences supporters of the clubs to take certain actions."
He asked them to "be very professional about their work and contribute positively to the development of the game."
Mr Aggrey praised the GFA for organising the clinic to update the knowledge of journalists on the rules of the game because proper interpretation by them would help calm nerves and reduce controversies which fan hooliganism.
The Deputy Minister tasked sportswriters to work hard and make useful suggestions, which would ensure that the Black Stars qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany
He castigated them for sacrificing other sports for football and urged them to change their attitude in this direction.
Until his appointment as the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Joe Aggrey was the president of the Sportswriters Association of Ghana.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 October 2001 - Mr Ben Koufie, chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has filed his nomination papers to contest a position on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee.
Speaking to the GNA Sports on Thursday, Mr Koufie said he entered the race because he has confidence in his ability and hopes his membership would help in taking positive decisions about the game on the continent.
"Football administration requires a lot of knowledge and experience in the game and I think I have enough of those and the clout to become an executive member of CAF."
The GFA chairman said he has established contacts with some members of the CAF congress and has received encouraging messages from them about his candidature.
"The response has been tremendous and overwhelming and I believe I would win the election and indeed make my presence felt in the executive committee by being open minded and conscientious in my contributions to the businesses of the house."
He said he was aware that Nigeria and Cote D' Ivoire have also entered the race but was undaunted because of his long and dedicated service to CAF in his capacity as a technical instructor.
Togo, the Gambia, Benin and Burkina Faso are the other countries in Zone Three, which must be represented on the executive committee from January 2002.
The elections would take place in Bamako, Mali when the CAF congress convenes to deliberate on pertinent issues and fill vacancies in the various committees before the Cup of African Nations (CAN) 2002 kicks off.
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