By Rachel Kakraba
A Former President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has called for massive investment in domestic football to make it attractive and lucrative. He said there are opportunities outside, which Ghanaian players could explore in building a successful career.
“The truth of the matter is that a player plays for Wa All Stars and earns GHC500 a month. Then he gets a contract to go to Vietnam and they pay him $500 per month. Who am I to stop him? The Chief and Elders of his village will besiege my house at dawn to give me warnings”.
Mr. Nyantakyi was a panellist on GBC’s programme, “Saving our Passion” which sought to engage Former GFA presidents on steps to reignite enthusiasm that has taken a nose dive in Ghana’s football. He was responding to a question on his position on the desire of young footballers to travel outside the country for other football exploits.
Mr. Nyantekyi said until such a time that issues of resources and infrastructure would be addressed, it must be on a demand-supply basis, where the footballers can travel to the diaspora and improve their game, which will eventually be to Ghana’s benefit.
For him, such an approach is better than imposing restrictions which he said are ineffective.
“People will be sneaking out, some players will leave without ITC and go to Burkina Faso, change his name, get the ITC there and go to Azerbaijan and play, in that case are you helping your people?”
He added “let them stay here and move to the best clubs on account of the best conditions and circumstances”.
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