Ghana FA debunks Graphic Sports article on selection of players into Black Stars

Published on: 17 January 2014
Ghana FA debunks Graphic Sports article on selection of players into Black Stars
GFA chief denies saying they will select players for coach Appiah

The Ghana FA has debunked as 'misleading' an article in the state-owned sports newspaper Graphic Sports claiming that the GFA will interfere in the selection of players into the Black Stars for the World Cup in Brazil in June.

The Graphic Sports' Friday edition thundered with its headline: 'Nyantakyi's Bombshell: FA to join in player selection', implying that the GFA will meddle in the selection of players into the national team.

But the GFA has issued a press statement to refute the article insisting that the GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi never said the GFA will tamper with the selection of players into the national team.

"We wish to state categorically that the article's headline and some parts of the story are misleading as the GFA President Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi never said the GFA will tamper or interfere in the selection of players into the Black Stars," the statement read.

"Mr. Nyantakyi only re-echoed coach Kwesi Appiah's policy that players who are club-less will not be considered for Black Stars selection."

The GFA explained that the Graphic Sports reporter asked whether the GFA will stick with the policy of calling only active players into the Black Stars.

Nyantakyi responded by saying that just like the coach stated few days ago player who have no clubs will not be considered while those having less playing time but signed with clubs could be given a chance.

"Mr. Nyantakyi’s response was in a question asked by the Graphic Sports reporter whether all inactive players will be considered for selection for the World Cup, a policy the reporter claimed was set by the coach when he was appointed," the GFA explained in their statement.

"But the GFA President answered the question by stating that, that policy has a caveat.

"Mr. Nyantakyi said players who are club-less will not be considered while players with clubs who aren't playing regularly will be considered under certain circumstances.

"The GFA President's direct response to the question whether all inactive players will be considered for selection for the World Cup was: "That rule will be tampered with, with some exceptions in exceptional circumstances. It all depends on the calibre of player involved, his experience and input when he plays for the Black Stars, then we can consider him.

"If you have a club and you don't play it is different from somebody who doesn't have a club at all; that makes it difficult, and in that case the coach has to explain why."

"From these direct quotes from Mr Nyantakyi it is clear that he never said the GFA will interfere with the selection of players into the Black Stars.

"In fact we support coach Kwesi Appiah's policy about club-less players, a view the Black Stars coach expressed in a recent interview with Metro FM in Kumasi which was widely published on the internet and in some newspapers in Ghana.

"We want to assure the public that the coach has a free hand to choose his own players and that the GFA has NEVER interfered in his job and we will NOT interfere in the coach's selection of players."

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