22 October 2009
opinion
Having guided the U-20 soccer side to lift the ultimate in the just-ended junior World Cup in Egypt, I am compelled to speak for the man who orchestrated the feat, Coach Sellas Tetteh.
In the run up to the team's preparation to the Egypt U-20 world tournament, came up a bribery allegation form Ishmael Yartey.
Ishmael was dropped from the final list that made it to Egypt, and he did not accept his fate but to make very hard to believe allegations against Coach Tetteh on player selection, bribery, preferential treatment, etc.
to him, he was unjustifiably sacked from the team by the affable Coach Tetteh.
Like a vulture that had chanced upon carcass, the media and some self acclaimed sports analysts had a field day devouring Coach Tetteh, when the man's side of the story had not been heard.
However, to be fair to the media fraternity, some espoused friendly words, whiles the majority were very harsh on a Coach in the last period of preparing his team to conquer the world at the youth tournament.
As the saying goes - "The end justifies the means", but even after the Coach's conquest with the Satellites, his detractors are still preying for his blood. At this point, I wish to suggest that "PLEASE LEAVE HIM ALONE", so that he can state his claim as the next best thing to happen to Ghana football, a Coach brewed in Ghana, for Africa and the world.
The timing of Yartey's allegations was wrong, unwarranted and very unnecessary. As proactive people, let us stop pulling people down (PHD syndrome) at crucial decision moments. I am confident that the on-going investigations will come to nothing.
Watching the tournament, I am certain others also gathered that the coach knew what he was about, and in my view, he selected the right and best materials to accomplish his mission.
For a coach who is calm, soft spoken and a deep thinker, and one who learnt the trade under celebrated Coaches where he cut his teeth, to know who is a team player to assist the Satellites win the cup.
To borrow the words of Mr. Ato Ahwoi, during his exchanges with Spio Gabrah in the media - "A player can be individually talented, but if the individual is not a team player, a coach worth his sort should not select him".
Sellas is on a great tangent to evolve into an accomplished coach to be in pole position for a Black Stars' coach, so please leave him alone. Who says Sellas does not know what he his about?
He was on the bench at Ghana's first ever World Cup at senior level, he stood in ascaretaker coach during the first stage qualifiers of the current Black Stars team, when the so called African 'Witch Doctor' swerved and abandoned a great team like Ghana Black Stars.
In my view, he could have won the Cup of Nations in Ghana had he been given the opportunity. He won the African Under-20 cup in Rwanda.
To Yartey, we give you the next 5 years to prove yourself in Ghana's U-23 and the Senior National Team. Learn from the Appiahs, Essiens and Kingsons. Shut up and do the business on the field.
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