J.E Sarpong Must Prove His ' Wee Smoking' Comments, Says Ghana FA ExCO

Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council member, Frederick Acheampong wants coach J.E Sarpong to substantiate claims of substance abuse by players on the domestic scene.

Sarpong, a former Liberty Professionals and Asante Kotoko trainer has come under intense pressure for claiming 60 per cent of the players in the local scene smoke marijuana.

“I have coached most of them but of course we have something called a coach-player relationship," the former Accra Great Olympics coach said.

"There was a match between Accra Great Olympics and Hearts of Oak. One player came to me and said I should buy him ‘weed’ and we will win the match.

"I later noticed that he was not the only person, he was sent by his colleagues. I told him, I can’t buy for him, so I gave him the money and in that game, he was the man of the match. He gave the assist for our winning goal.

"It is a bad practice but if it will win the match [for me], I don’t mind. If my team wins the match, I take my winning bonus [as a coach] and I'm gone.

“What I will do for my team to win is what is important."

However, the former Ashanti Gold Chief Executive Officer wants the veteran gaffer to substantiate his claims.

“It’s a serious matter because some of these comments are serious and he can’t make such comments without any proof because I think it’s a serious matter and he needs to prove it with evidence,” Frederick Acheampong told Starr Sports.

“Apart from the football aspect, he can’t just make those comments and go free.

"He needs to substantiate or back his claims with evidence, numbers, statistics, figures because apart from the fact that it may amount to substance abuse in the football circles, it’s even illegal to trade in marijuana in the country, so where do the players get them to buy?"

Several players in the local scene have called on the gaffer to render an apology to the players.