Of salvaging Ghana football and fund for retirees!
As the start of the Premier League is in limbo, the decision by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to hold a two-day meeting aimed at educating stakeholders, particularly club owners and executives, as well as the football organising bodies themselves, on the way forward is worthwhile.
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It is pertinent to note the observation by the President of the GFA, Kwesi Nyantakyi, that the small size of the Ghanaian economy, coupled with other factors, had greatly affected the smooth organisation of the game in our country.
For instance, he lamented the fact that it had been a perennial challenge for owners of football clubs to pay the needed salaries to their players on a regular basis, even as small as the sums might be, which must be why some of the quality players were being lost to such unpopular football destinations as Vietnam and Thailand (see back page).
We can’t agree more with the FA president. And it is to find antidotes to such challenges and rescue our l
But we must thank the FA leadership for taking the bold step to set up a fund to cater for retired national footballers.
We think this is something long overdue that should have been the baby of the state. However, it is better late than never and the whole nation should be grateful to the FA for such an important initiative.
For all the negatives that Nyantakyi & Co might have attracted during the year, we dare say that this singular effort at instituting the Retired National Footballers Endowment Fund (RENFEF) must be positive enough to wipe away all the sins of the FA as the year comes to a close.
Doubtless, it is the best news of the year on the footballing front, as it will be good enough insurance for the Osei Kofis, Kofi Pares, John Naawus and co, as well as future stars, to jump in gratitude.
But we think other footballers and athletes in other disciplines should not be left out of such a progressive measure to get them insured for life after their careers.
We, therefore, implore individual football clubs, as well as other national associations, to follow the example of the FA in whatever manner that their capacities can allow.
We hope Prof Kwame Karikari and his Board of Trustees for the RENFEF and the fund managers, Unibank Ghana Limited, will hit the ground running when it is officially launched in March next year.
Merry Christmas to all our patrons for tolerating us throughout the year.
