By: Sheikh Tophic Sienu @desheikh1 on twitter
During the just ended Ordinary Congress of the Ghana FA, CEO of Ashantigold SC, Cudjoe Fianoo appealed to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Mustapha Ahmed to officially support the teams that will be participating in the 2015/16 African Club competitions; AshGold and Medeama SC.
I was personally happy with the question because His Excellence John Mahama had said in the 2015 State of the Nation's Address of how the local league should be improved.
The Minister in his response was frank. He said there has not been any allocation of funds for the participating teams but he will see what can be done.
But interestingly, it seems AshGold themselves are not serious going into the competition.
Often times, we have blamed Kumasi Asante Kotoko for selling Daniel Nii Adjei and Yaw Frimpong to TP Mazembe, at a time that we felt the Oseikrom club should be keeping their best players to enable them compete well at the top continental club competitions.
But AshGold appears to be repeating the same mistakes.
Before the league ended, Yakybu Mohammed was sold to Raja Casablanca in Morocco. Didier Korie left for CS Sfxien, Bernard Morrison followed up to AS Vita Club of DR Congo and now Lawrence Lartey has also joined South African outfit, Ajax Cape Town.
To the players, it seems they took monetary decisions. But they could have gotten better offers if they had played for AshGold in the Caf Champions League. Don't you think so?
Yakubu Mohammed am told is now struggling to find his feet in Morocco but Bernard Morrison is wonderfully performing for Vita Club. But regardless of the hardships of our local league, I think the managers of the players should have seen bigger deals after the Champions League.
But what did AshGold also do to retain these players? Fianoo in an interview told me Bernard Morrison wanted to leave and they had nothing to do than to let him go. Was that the situation of the other players too?
Players will obviously itch to leave for external contracts but management should be able to tie them down at least in the case of AshGold.
Do you know why Aduana Stars has been able to renew the contracts of Stephen Adams, Godfred Saka, Daniel Darkwah etc? It is because they have a Frank Berkambuer in the person of Albert Commey Aryeetey who understands and respects player relationship and psychology. Mr. Fianoo has the same qualities but what has changed?
Now to the request made to the Minister; what was the aim of AshGold which compelled Fianoo to make that bold request?
Do we think the Minister would even organize something for AshGold if he realizes that they are selling their quality players?
Yakubu was the top scorer with 13 goals before he left for Raj Cassablanca. Morrison was their best attacking midfielder before leaving for AS Vita Club ... and Lartey was their captain before leaving. ... So what will the Minister perceive? ... the club is not serious, maybe that is what he will think.
Inasmuch as I believe that AshGold need money to go to Africa, I also believe that it is not player sales that will give them that money.
I learnt AshGold recently signed a sponsorship partnership with Permafix Industries Ltd. Yes that is what I want to see. The Champions League should be enough to get them sponsors who will see them through a successful outing in Africa.
When I spoke to Kabelo Bosilong, a Football Marketing and Commercial expert in South Africa, he said, "Your clubs must use their platforms to get sponsors. In SA, we encourage the clubs to take the sponsorship no matter how small it is. As they get mileage on TV from the TV broadcast, they will increase their bids".
I think AshGold should do same. But selling the quality players they have to their fellow competitors on the African continent does not place them in a better position to do well in Africa.
I love Ghana football. Let's learn from our mistakes.
God bless our homeland Ghana!!!