Feature: Saif Rubie's comment on the quality of the Ghana league lacks substance, he needs to learn

By: Sheikh Tophic Sienu @desheikh1 on twitter

Feature: Saif Rubie's comment on the quality of the Ghana league lacks substance, he needs to learn

Yes he said it. I listened to the interview on BBC. Saif Rubie said our league lacks quality. Like seriously???

Well if you missed it, this is what Saif Rubie said

“Avram is happy to have the privilege of being a national team,” he told the BBC Sports Today program.

“In a short period of time he managed to turn around the whole nation’s attitude and expectation of the national team after the debacle of the world cup.  All he does is watch games and prepare for the next and that is his priority. The outcome of it shows in the games so far.”

“He has not been on holidays”, Saif continued “He has been scouting players all over Europe. He has been organising coaching clinics for the coaches in Ghana because he believes good coaches will bring good players. It is his job to do the best for the national team and I think so long as that shows in the national team, I don’t see what the issue is.”

Saif also suggest that the quality of the Ghana league effectively rules players out of Grant’s squads.

“He sleeps and drinks Ghanaian football but at the moment the quality of the league in Ghana is not up there due to a number of reasons.

Any player that does well in Ghana goes to play in second or third division teams in Europe or Asia in places like Thailand and Vietnam and obviously for Avram, these are not the kind of players he will look to pick for the national team so the pool of players in the Ghanaian league is not the standard that it should be.

You look at the players that he has picked for the national team, you can’t really argue with one who has come and not performed at the highest level.”

????? That is the entire interview of Saif Rubie, Avram Grants interview.

First of all, Saif Rubie is a liar. Yes a blatant liar who must not be taken serious by the world sports media.

Avram Grant has never organised any coaching clinic in Ghana since he became the head coach but Rubie says "... he has been organising  coaching clinics for coaches in Ghana...". Must we take such a liar serious?

Secondly, Saif Rubie said the quality of the Ghanaian league is poor that is why Grant does not call local players. Does he really understand the word quality? I learnt Rubie is from the Golf so probably I can excuse his ignorance and lack of technical application of the word "quality".

Maybe he wanted to say "the league lacks attraction" and he unknowingly said "quality".

I would have agreed with him if he had said the latter but to say "quality", Rubbie must come again.

How many matches has Rubie watched this season in the Ghana league?

Avram Grant watched less than five matches in the league and said after a game at Dansoman that the league has a lot of promise and the future looks bright. Where was Rubie? He should come again.

Out of the 448 matches played so far in the local league, I have watched not less than 200 matches. I move from center to center to watch what my league has for me. You don't come from nowhere to tell me my league lacks quality. That is absolutely a display of lack of knowledge. In our local palance, we say "Akoa no abon paaa".

Did you watch the U20 World Cup in New Zealand? Did you see Samuel Tetteh? He plays for WAFA in the Ghana league. Did you also see Patrick Asmah? He was a player of relegated BA United in the Ghana league. Joseph Aidoo plays for Inter Allies. Benjamin Tetteh was even playing for a Division One side and you saw his quality at the world cup. Am using these players because perhaps you have not been watching the local league but you watched the world cup. So what is Rubie talking about? He should come again.

Of all the matches that I have watched this season, I have seen quality talents and brilliant performances at work. Ask David Duncan and Didi Dramani and Bashiru Hayford and Kwabena Ameyaw and Solomon Odwo and and and ... and they tell you what quality is.

I have seen players like Ahmed Adams of Kotoko, Bernard Morrison of AshGold, Rubin Gnagne of Hearts of Oak, Baba Mensah of Inter Allies, Muntari Tagoe of Medeama, Majeed Ashmeru of Wafa, Latif Anabilah of New Edubiase, Godfred Saka of Aduana, Wadudu Yakubu of Wa All Star, Ciba Adams of Hasaacas, Noah Martey of Bechem United, and the list goes on and on and on. I can mention five players each from each club and you will struggle to choose your best in terms of their positions so Rubie is wrong.

Yes our league lacks attraction because we are not economically sound to keep our players and pay them better but if it is about quality then Rubie must render an apology to the technical committee of the Ghana FA. He has sold his ignorance and lack of knowledge to the whole world. Simple 'quality' you don't understand. Well, he is from from the United Arab Emirates so he can be pardoned but he must be careful next time. This is my league.

A survey am conducting, even though I have not finished, is revealing that WAFA matches attracted the 5th largest spectators at their matches both home and away. Why? Because they exhibit quality and good football. How could a newly promoted club pull that crowd at their matches if not their quality of play. I wish he watched AshGold/Inter Allies or New Edubiase/Hearts of Oak or WAFA/Kotoko or or or ... then he would understand quality.

Ask Benjamin Willie Graham of GTV and Ridwan Asante of SuperSport and they will tell you more because they telecasted most of our matches this season.

Now see this. Daniel Nii Adjei and Yaw Frimpong played for Kotoko, Solomon Asante, Kissi Boateng and Gladson Awako played for Berekum Chelsea  before moving to TP Mazembe to play in the Congolese league. Go and see the quality they have added to the Congolese champions. We don't have money but we have quality.

Just a few days ago, Raja Casablanca has completed the signing of three Ghanaians Awal Mohammed, Nathaniel Asamoah and Yakubu Mohammed who all played in the local league before moving while Bernard Morrison is completing a deal with AS Vita Club of Congo. Francis Coffie and Augustine Ocran are lighting up the Sudanese league while Mannan Yosuoffou is a king in the Tunisian league. Do they lack quality?

What about Harrison Afful, John Boye, Jerry Akaminko, Agyemang Badu, Samuel Inkoom, Gershon Coffie, Essien, Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari, Wakaso, Rabiu Mohammed and and and recently Baba Rahman. They all played in the local league before moving. If they lacked quality, would they have made it?

Yes we lack attraction because of money but WALLAHI we don't lack quality.

I wish Saif Rubie is reading this piece. He will surely blame his mouth for making those comments. Ghana league does not lack quality, it rather lacks attractiveness. Saif Rubie go and learn!