Wontumi Talks Sports : He Calls For Ban On Use Of Reserved Recreational Grounds By Private Developers
The Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has called for a total ban on the development of lands strictly reserved for the construction of playing grounds such as community football pitches by private individuals.
Mr Antwi Boasiako fondly called Chairman Wontumi who was commenting on the declining fortunes of Ghana’s football on Wontumi TV/Radio in Kumasi on Tuesday said those who have used their influence to deny access to public lands to serve purposes such as the construction of recreational grounds like football pitches, should be stopped.
According to him by denying those with the potential to play football at the highest international level football the opportunity to come into the limelight the advancement of Ghana football is being retarded.
“These acts of illegal utilization of recreational grounds to serve other purposes are counter productive and disincentive to the promotion of football in the country must be stopped.” He bemoaned.
Chairman Wontumi who proved to have a deep knowledge in Ghana football quizzed the programme host, King Eben for answers on why Ghanaian professional footballers at times attract as low as 30 thousand US dollars as transfer fee.
”‘I can’t understand why our players cannot attract higher fees on the international football transfer market as do their counterparts from the developed football nations especially in Europe and South America to play in the big clubs. This is a source of worry to me.” .He told the ace sports presenter King Eben on whose programme Chairman Wontumi expressed his concerns.
According to him at every World Cup tournament that Ghana had featured her players found themselves competing on equal terms with their counterparts even though they are rated as big stars on the international circuit.
Chairman Wontumi who apparently was lamenting the lack pro-activeness on the part of local football administrators said if the lack of space to train footballers can also be a factor hindering football development in the country then he is ready to relay the message to the seat of government for the challenge to be addressed.
King Eben for his part called for a national policy on what he called, “ONE DISTRICT, ONE SPORT ACADEMY’ to boost efforts of unearthing budding football talents in the country..