The setting was Pyramid Home, adjoining the Nima Police Station. Should be someplace round 2007. I had been invited to a sports activities program by Jacob Eshun on Asempa FM.

Afriyie declared his intention to contest for the GFA Presidency within the 2023 GFA Presidential Elections.

After we had been achieved with this system, I met George Afriyie. He was engaged in a dialog with a few of the sports activities guys of the newly based station. I had heard of his affiliation with Gamba All Blacks however had by no means met him.

The very first thing that struck me was his ardour for the game. For one who just isn’t simply swayed by the ideas of individuals, I used to be unusually caught up within the dialog after some minutes. His story and his affiliation bought me to spend one other twenty minutes or extra listening to his “lecture”.

He had been excited by the efficiency of the Starlets in 1993 as a hustler attempting to make ends meet within the land of the rising solar, Japan. Daniel Addo and co had given him a purpose to make his approach again residence to not solely put money into the game however haul alongside some buyers.

The story of Gamba All Blacks is an all too acquainted one. His forays into Administration of the game was starting to take form I reckon.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
The times of the well-known Liberty Professionals just isn’t misplaced on us. Expertise improvement is big within the improvement of the game.

There’s a big distinction in simply unearthing expertise and contributing to a expertise pool and that of abilities who actually contribute to organizational targets and past. The numbers from the stables of Dansoman with George Afriyie and buddies had been scary on the time.

We recall the lads, don’t we? Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari, Michael Essien, Derrick Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah, John Paintsil, and extra who had glittering careers taking part in on the highest degree of the game and with a few of the greatest golf equipment on the earth.

His eye for recognizing expertise just isn’t misplaced on him. The advantages accrued from the success of those lads and extra can’t be ignored. Its trickle-down results from a sporting and financial worth are unmatched.

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

TURKIYE 2013
In 2013, I had the chance of overlaying the Black Satellites in Turkey on the FIFA U-20 Championship. Ghana had misplaced its first two video games to eventual Champions France and Spain and had been in a really precarious scenario of not making it previous the group levels.

Along with my cameraman, I visited the Polat Renaissance Lodge to seize some interviews for my group Multimedia Group on the time. One would have thought that the losses had been going to be a drain on him because the Administration Committee Chair. The opportunity of staying within the competitors remained bleak after the 2 losses.

Fortunately, and presumably by divine design, 4 finest third positioned groups nonetheless stood an opportunity of qualification. Ghana had a remaining group sport to be honoured within the Metropolis of Kayseri towards the US. Mr Afriyie on seeing my crew, invited us to dinner after the lads had exited to their resort rooms.

That was a pleasant gesture. His subsequent act was very stunning. It was a direct and sudden query. Onua, I do know you have got been conserving tabs on all our opponents. You might be one of some journalists right here. Are you able to kindly share with me your ideas on the crew and what we are able to presumably do to get an excellent consequence towards the States and presumably safe qualification if different outcomes go our approach?

This was coming from somebody who was higher geared up within the administration of gamers and officers however was humble sufficient to just accept the ideas of others. You don’t get that from all of the realizing directors as of late. I shared my ideas with him. We had spoken for near 4 hours. I left the groups resort at 3am Turkish time and made my strategy to my Lodge with my cameraman.

What a dialog it was I assumed. My respect for him grew lots stronger as these conversations continued on the Hilton Lodge in Kayseri for the interval we had been there. After the video games towards The USA and the Spherical of 16 tie towards Portugal, he walked as much as me and mentioned thanks Onua.

You’re a good man. Your soccer mind is nice. I smiled and appreciated his feedback. I’m not the sort who desires anybody singing my praises. I simply get issues achieved and quietly stroll away.

Within the 29 days I spent overlaying the crew, I famous how he engaged everybody. From the gamers, technical crew, officers, followers and extra. The fervour with which he executed his job and his relationship with everybody was unmatched. He didn’t go round lecturing anybody on who he was and his position.

He was a person supervisor. He’ll exit of his strategy to encourage gamers who weren’t getting minutes and even assisted Ghanaian residents in Turkiye with matchday tickets to get to see the Satellites.

His reply to those criticisms had been distinctive. Are they adequate? Do they carry out that on matchdays? Have they given us outcomes? You couldn’t argue that, may you? A third place end was a worthy final result after shedding our first two group video games.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA (2015)
How shut had been we to profitable this below Mr Afriyie’s management as Administration Committee Chair however for the heartbreak of shedding on pens? Management is every thing. Management is maximizing the skills of one and all and making issues occur with respect to organisational targets.

Once more, I used to be fortunate to have coated this tourney as a journo and had the chance to cowl the crew from shut quarters. Unmatched management from a person who is aware of the right way to work with everybody. Emphasis on everybody. Unhappy he couldn’t crown all of it with the AFCON trophy.

FOOTBALL AS A UNITED FRONT
I’ve had the chance to look at varied leaderships of the Chairs/Presidents of the soccer Affiliation from 1993. From Uncle Butler, Late Lepowura Jawula, late Ben Kuofie, Dr Nyaho Tamakloe, Lawyer Kwesi Nyantakyi, Dr Kofi Amoah and present Capo Kurt Okraku.

They’ve all had their moments managing the game however by no means have I encountered such ranges of sever and sunder within the administration of the game. Soccer is a crew sport and there’s all the time the chance of disagreements from time to time.

The soccer household have all the time discovered a strategy to resolve their variations and work collectively. These days although sadly seem like lengthy gone. When present President Okraku made these extraordinarily unlucky feedback of not being ready to work together with his “enemies”, I knew we had been in for lots of bother.

Is it not stunning the extent of disdain and the poverty of the game with respect to selections and its basic development? Concepts are NOT restricted to some individuals. Removed from that. I used to be delighted to listen to Afriyie communicate so passionately about unifying the actors within the sport and cast off the all-knowing scenario of right this moment’s management.

To be continued…