FIFA Director Member Associations Africa Gelson Fernandes was in Ghana for a two day official visit to have first-hand information on progress made since the Normalization era and plans for future development.
The former Swiss International who previously played for FC Sion, Manchester City, and Leicester City, Stade Rennes, Sporting Lisbon among others held meetings with Youth and Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif (Hon.), the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture and President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku.
Fernandes later met with the Technical Directorate led by Bernhard Lippert and the National Teams department of the GFA led by Deputy General Secretary Alex Asante.
We caught up with him to find out what he makes of the progress Ghana football has made in the last five-years, youth and grassroots development, the need for co-existence between the Football Association and Government, having a structure to develop football talents among others.
Read on for the full transcript:
On visit to Ghana
I have been in Ghana for two days because after the World Cup, it is important to engage Member Associations, especially Ghana, regarding the future of Ghanaian football and the infrastructure that are in place and what we can do for the next cycle of forward 3.0 in this country.
On meeting with Youth and Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif
I spoke to the Minster of Youth and Sports because we need good relationship between government and the Federation always to grow the game. For instance, when there is a fight, it is difficult to work together because government supports the national teams so it is important to align in what we do.
On meeting with Technical Directorate
I met with the Technical Department of the Federation. It is important to go into football and give the kids opportunities around the country with youth football for both boys and girls.
On having a Technical structure to develop talents
I have learnt some key facts here that was not done in some Countries but Ghana has a top potential and talent. But talent is not enough because you need structure, competitions for the young players to have the best platform possible and to organize yourself for the next World Cup which has 9 African teams plus a play off. For that, we need to prepare countries like Ghana which I am in charge of the African continent to reach that goal.
On making it to the next World Cup
We just came out of One World Cup and you’ll be aiming of going to the next one but you will face competition within the continent and what is important for me is to increase the level of organization of all my Member Associations in Africa.
On meeting with Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports
We discussed with the Members of Parliament and the Commission of sports to find out what their views are, regarding Ghanaian football and domestic football as well because I strongly believe that the world has changed and not easy for any domestic football across the world. It is not easy for the Ghana Premier League in terms of financial potential and infrastructure but it is good to engage the people in the country to make sure the League is running well and young players have the platform where they can play and fans have joy here which is not an easy task but will take some time. Ghana has been through Normalization which stopped activities of football which is not the best we wanted, Covid-19 came to hit as well but it is in the past so we just have to focus on the future than to look behind. I am here to support the Federation and to encourage them in some ways we think is important, that is youth football development and infrastructure so in a nut shell, that’s a summary of my visit here and I will meet with some of your legends some of which I played with as well.
On the state of Ghana football in the last five years
When you have a Normalization Committee, It is not a nice thing for FIFA. For us it is a defeat because of course it’ll take some restructuring but you can’t invest in the country so it is very tough when you come out of it. Then you have a new Executive Committee which is not easy, you pick up halfway and look at what you have. What you can do and not. Covid-19 also came which was tough as well and FIFA tried to support every Member Association the best way we could.
On future of Ghana Football
The Ghana team is young; they’ve launched a youth league across the country which is very important. We can’t produce good players if we don’t start developing from the youth level because you cannot always rely on private entities and Academies which as a Director, I don’t want to accept that so every Member Association have to get a League for youth football. It is good to have a youth level competition but there is a lot to do and my team is here to support and push the Federation.
On observations during visit
What I see here is that, things have been taken seriously, work is being done and staff is present, competence is there as well and sometimes you need financial support which is also important. With organization, planning and coaching education, education for youth players, clear path way, it is possible to go overstep what is your potential and I believe in that. It takes time and the results is over the years and sustainable.
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