Opoku Gakpo Writes: Beyond Our Shame In Brazil 2014, A Few Ideas On The Way Forward

To the extent that we made constant progressions in the two previous World Cups; reaching the second round in Germany 2006 and Quarter Finals in South Africa 2010; and exited in the first round in Brazil 2014, there is no need denying the fact that this world cup campaign was a total failure.

Failure that cannot be blamed on God abandoning His Ghanaian citizenship this time around, nor hard luck wearing the number twelfth Black Stars jersey on the football pitches in Brazil, nor Ghanaians spending too much time praying that God delivers us from the hard economic times instead of praying for our Black Stars.

But failure that can be blamed on the absence of quality and effective leadership for team Ghana in far away Brazil; and a playing body blinded by greed and baptized in indiscipline, who instead of finding pride in wearing the national team colours, found fulfillment rather in embarrassing themselves and our dear country on the world's biggest football stage.

Ahead of the tournament, we all had a lot of confidence that this team holds great prospects and would go far in Brazil. But if players would not train and refuse journeying to match venues because their appearance fees have not been paid; If players would have guts to assault managers both verbally and physically because they think they are the 'best things' that have ever happened to the Black Stars; If our squad is depleted hours before the most crucial of games because some players can't see eye to eye with the coach and other management team members; If all the discussions in the international media about Ghana's show at the World Cup had to do with cash ridiculously being transported in a chartered flight from Accra to Brazil for players, instead of how our coach is strategizing to qualify for the next round; Then it would have been very unfair for God to allow us prosper ahead of our more level headed, more patriotic, more determined, and more hungry-for-success US compatriots from 'Obamaland'.

Especially when our supporters who had been flown to Brazil to support our team were stranded in airports and abandoned high school dormitories instead of being in the stadium to back the team, exacerbating our shame and fueling our international ridicule. While on the sidelines, the President of the Ghana Football Association Kwesi Nyantakyi was struggling to disentangle himself from allegations of agreeing to fix matches.

Now, enough lamentation over spilled milk and on to the way forward. President John Mahama appears to have read my mind and that of millions of other Ghanaians by removing the Minister for Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and his deputy, Joseph Yamin. That would have been my first suggestion that he relieves them of their positions. They failed all of us in how they managed the crisis in Brazil, including the players' demand for their cash and the trouble they subjected the supporters they took there to. And they don't deserve to continue managing what has become the 'Ministry of Black Stars'. If they can't even manage the most pampered arm of the Ministry, the Black Stars, then what more at the Ministry can they manage?

Secondly, I think the President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi should resign. We thank him for his effective management of our previous campaigns, but I think he lost grasp this time around. In my view, he deserves to take the least blame for the scandals that broke out in our camp in Brazil, off course, apart from the match fixing one which had nothing to do with the tournament. But it's called the 'principle of ultimate responsibility'. It all happened under his watch. We have lost confidence in him and his management capabilities. He should resign along with the management team of the Black Stars ahead of the expiration of his current mandate next year. For a fresh congress to be held, and new management members elected. Going forward, we need fresh limbs at the helm of affairs, trust in whom is not shaky, and with whom we would feel secure handing over our dreams for a successful 2018 World Cup campaign.

Next, Coach Kwesi Appiah should be dismissed. He has done fairly well thus far, but appeared very clueless on the biggest stage when it mattered most. Benching his star players against USA until the opponent team got tired; his badly informed substitutions; players fighting and disrespecting him; not winning even a single match at the World Cup, how worse can it get? I think he is overwhelmed by the job at hand. When Coach Kwesi Appiah was appointed, many were those of us who heaved a huge sigh of relief, exclaiming 'our time has come' with one of our own in charge. But with the benefit of hindsight, I conclude my sense of judgment was wrong. We need a new coach. We need the kind of coach who by virtue of being an achiever in the football world himself would exude a large amount charisma when he stands before the players and would thus be respected by them.

And finally, the Black Stars team should be dissolved. I think the team should be symbolically declared officially disbanded along with the rest of the technical team. When the new coach comes in, preferably someone who has followed Ghana football, and possibly another Ghanaian, then he takes on the task of reconstructing the team by recalling deserving players. These boys made us laughing stocks, and they don't deserve the opportunity to wear the national colours again on a silver platter. If the new coach wants, he can include some of those who participated in the World Cup tournament. But should leave out senior players like Kevin Prince Boateng, Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien who appear to have outlived their usefulness in the Black Stars team. And even if he returns, Asamoah Gyan should be stripped off the captain arm band for a more assertive fellow to lead our stars.

In summary, I think we should destroy everything, and re-assemble from scratch. What has happened stinks too much to build anything strong on. The very foundation of our Black Stars team has been wrecked, and we attempt repairing the broken walls at our own peril. Let's have the boldness and the courage to crack the whip, and show that when you need a group of people to take the tough decisions, the Ghanaian can be called upon.

May God bless our homeland Ghana, and make our nation great and strong.

By Joseph Opoku Gakpo
Journalist and blogger at www.josephopokugakpo.wordpress.com