GHANA’S FOOTBALLING PARADOX: TALENT ABUNDANT, SUCCESS ELUSIVE

Story by Abel Kwame Asiedu Appau

UNIVERSITY OF MEDIA, ARTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

For decades, Ghana has been a powerhouse in African football, consistently churning out exceptional players who grace the biggest leagues and international tournaments. But the true magic lies not just in the established stars, but in the vibrant local scene – a breeding ground where raw talent meets unwavering passion.

From dusty pitches in small towns to bustling academies in Accra, Ghana’s footballing future is constantly being shaped by a deep well of young, aspiring players. According to the CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report of May 2022, Ghana lies in the 14th position as the world’s main exporter of footballers with an average of 293 players leaving the shores of Ghana to continue their career elsewhere.

Dubbed the Brazilians of African Football, over the years, produced great players like Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah, Charles Kwabena Akonor, Ibrahim Tanko, and Sammy Kuffour, who excelled in the Ghana Premier League before playing abroad.However, recent Ghanaian players, except Sulley Ali Muntari, Asamoah Gyan, Baba Rahman, Kwadwo Asamoah, and others who directly left Ghana, have failed to excel in their careers abroad.The two biggest clubs in Ghana, Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, have witnessed numerous talented players leaving after performing well in a season.

Players like Joseph Esso, Kwame Peprah, Diawisie Taylor, Kwame Poku, Daniel Lomotey, and others, who were among the best in the league, moved before the season’s end, yielding no positive results after leaving the country.The local league which a landscape brimming with promise, yet seemingly unable to fully prepare its players for the harsh realities of the global stage.

What might account for the poor performances of Ghanaian players failing to make a name for themselves after excelling in the Ghana Premier League?PREMATURE EXITGhana’s Premier League, once a breeding ground for top talents, faces a growing challenge: a player exodus. Young stars, lured by opportunities abroad, are leaving before fully developing, leaving the league thinner and the competition less fierce.Deputy coach of the Ghana Nation Under-20 male team, and former Black Stars and Ghana Premier League player Nii Odartey Lamptey in an interview expressed his thoughts on player exodus, stating, “Now the situation we find ourselves in is that there isn’t much money in the system, and players hastily leave the local league for greener pastures abroad without fully nurturing their football talent.”He emphasized, “This is one major reason Ghanaian players are struggling in Europe because we are below the required standard.

So after 6 months or the first year in their contract, they are released and they return home.”Agents Fuel Exodus: Promises of Riches Trump DevelopmentThere is another causative force behind the premature exit of players from the local scene. These are football or player agents and managers. Football agents serve as intermediaries between the players they represent and other parties that want to engage the player for contractual obligations. Football agent Nana Kwame Kwarteng, in an interview on Happy Sports, also revealed that Ghanaian clubs are not able to keep players for long because agents make huge promises to transfer players abroad in search of higher wages.“I will blame we the agents because we play a 40% role in player transfer and also help the clubs get money.

We don’t make the players ripe before we take them outside. The player exodus does not help the Ghana league.”“A club will sign a player for two years, and he will perform in the first year. In the second year, when he is in top form, the agents will tell him not to renew his contract by promising him a deal abroad, and the club loses. So if the club is not able to develop quality players to be transferred outside, then they all lose big time,” he added.

The CEIS Football Observatory mentioned earlier indicated Ghana is the second largest exporter of footballers in Africa. This survey gives credence to agents influencing players abroad in search of greener pastures.The standard of the league, as mentioned by him, is right because the standard here can’t match that of others like the South Africa League, Egyptian League, Tanzanian League, and many others.Low Wages, High Hopes: Fortune Over DevelopmentLow wages and limited incentives push promising youngsters abroad, often to lower-tier leagues. This early exodus, in search of a financial windfall, hinders their development and deprives the Ghanaian league of its rising stars. It stunts their growth and weakens the domestic league.

Ghanaian players are paid poorly because all the clubs belong to private individuals, and it’s their hard-earned money used to pay them. This has put a lot of pressure on club administrators over the years and has led to player sales and movement because the economic conditions in the country aren’t favourable. Ghanaian striker Alex Asamoah, who once shone for Ashgold and Asante Kotoko, surprisingly revealed he’d rather play in Pakistan than his home country. Asamoah believes the Pakistani league offers better conditions than Ghana’s Premier League. He emphasized his desire to play abroad, saying: “Even if it is Pakistan, I will move because it is better than playing in the local scene.

I will accept any move that comes my way at the moment,” Asamoah told Angel TV. Goalkeeper, Eric Ofori Antwi, also in an interview mentioned that he does not mind playing in Iraq or Pakistan should an offer be made available. This statement highlights the challenges faced by Ghana’s Premier League in retaining talent.So when paid in dollars, they have more to support their families.

Furthermore, pressure from families. In Ghanaian society, every player is strongly tied to their family, so their performances give these families hope.Families always pressure club administrators to let their sons and daughters leave the league for foreign lands so they can earn more to take care of the family rather than depending on the “little token” they earn in the Ghana Premier League. A former Asante Kotoko management member lifted the lid on a player transfer driven by family pressure.

He revealed how the family of former defender Awal Mohammed pressured the club to accept a transfer bid. The management member stated that the family’s determination was evident as they “hired a bus” to meet with the club and advocate for Mohammed’s transfer. They emphasized his role as the family’s breadwinner and how the move would significantly improve their financial situation. This anecdote underscores the complex interplay between familial needs and player transfers in Ghanaian football.Beyond Talent: Lack of Guidance Stifles Ghanaian Stars Ghana Premier League legend, Eric Kwabena Bekoe, blames a lack of proper management for his unfulfilled potential. Bekoe, once the league’s top scorer, told LUV FM: “I think I did not get the right managerial structure that could help me”.

This highlights another factor contributing to Ghanaian players failing to fully develop – the absence of strong guidance to navigate their careers. Despite his talent, Bekoe’s career primarily consisted of stints with Asante Kotoko and Egyptian club Petrojet FC, falling short of the heights many expected. He hopes upcoming players will learn from his experience, emphasizing: “Everything I think I did that did not make me reach those heights I will punch it out to them.” Bekoe’s story serves as a cautionary tale, underscoring the importance of good management in maximizing a player’s potential on the world stage.INTERVENTIONGhana’s Football Association (GFA) has joined forces with the Professional Footballers Association (PFAG) to launch standard player contracts. This aims to improve conditions for professional footballers in the country.

The PFAG has long advocated for player welfare, and the GFA recognizes their expertise. This partnership signifies a step towards achieving their shared goal.Ghana’s footballing future hinges on nurturing its talent. By addressing issues like low wages, agent behaviour, and lack of guidance, the nation can ensure its talented youth reach their full potential and continue Ghana’s rich footballing legacy.