Executive member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Nana Oduro Sarfo, has advised former footballers who wish to be involved in running top offices in Ghanaian football to first acquire basic qualifications through education to make them eligible for such roles.
Sarfo’s remarks came in response to comments made by former Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah, on football administration in Ghana.
The former Juventus midfielder claimed that the experiences garnered by ex-footballers have been left to rot as a result of being sidelined by authorities in charge of the game.
“Legends and former players are not getting the chance around football administration. I have learned something, that football is run by footballers. It is not the grammar or English that you speak,” he said on Sompa FM.
However, Sarfo thinks it is wrong to assume that experience is enough to play leading roles in football administration. According to him, former footballers who play such roles have gone through some education to buttress their experience.
Citing the case of former Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o, Sarfo stated that the former Barcelona and Internazionale striker pursued further academic knowledge, which has now enabled him to assume the role of FA president in Cameroon.
“Samuel Eto’o is the FA president for Cameroon. He needed to go to school so he can better himself academically. He joined associations that are affiliated with their FA before making plans to contest. If Stephen Appiah wants to play a key role or wants to lead the GFA, he needs to have better academic knowledge and certificates,” he told Onua FM.
