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Hayatou cheated for Cameroon to win
A GNA News Feature by Boakye-Dankwa Boadi
Accra, Feb. 8, GNA - Going through GNA files one came across
this piece: "A number of football enthusiasts, who witnessed
the semi-final match of the Ghana 2008 MTN African Cup of
Nation tournament between Ghana and Cameroon accused Issah
Hayatou, Cameroonian President of Confederation of African
Sports (CAF), of cheating to enable his country to win the
match.
"They accused Hayatou of ensuring that Moroccan Referee
Abderahim El-Arjoune, known for his bias refereeing against
Ghana, handled the match, which was played at the Ohene Djan
Stadium on Thursday.
"Mr John Boadu, who described himself as a serious football
enthusiast, said Referee El-Arjoune gave the Cameroonians a
leeway by overlooking the many brutish attacks on Ghanaians.
"He said the Referee El-Arjoune should never be allowed to
officiate in international matches in order not for him to
continue to bring disgrace to African soccer.
"Mrs Janet Ofosuhene, a physical education instructor, who
was visibly angry while she was leaving the stadium, accused
the CAF Executives of belonging to a conclave that decided,
which country should win the African Nations' Cup, and asked
why referees were not selected through open balloting but
was done in secret."
Soar grapes; one might say and dismiss the views expressed
here. But let us take a closer look at the assertions and
find out whether there is any substance in them.
Some private radio stations in Accra were alleged to have
reported that Hayatou had complained about bad officiating
during the Ghana - Cameroon epic encounter. They said he
went on to say that El-Arjoune would never again be allowed
to handle matches organised by CAF.
If this proves to be true then it would have given credence
to the observations made by Mr Boadu and Mrs Ofosuhene. They
saw something, which many people did not see.
In any case our Elders say: "Se obomokyekyie fri nsuo ase be
ka kyere wo se odenkyem a wu a wo nngye no akyini" to wit
"if one comes out of an enclosure to disclose what happened
while he was inside, one does not have to argue with him or
her".
If it is true that Hayatou had made such observation then
his action could be compared to that of "Anomaa koko ne ko
ne a wo ko atifi ko honu nsuo na wa ba anafo aba bisa"; to
wit "the proverbial bird that goes upstream to muddy the
stream and comes downstream to complain about the muddy
water downstream.
Here are a few questions Hayatou has to answer: Doesn't the
Referee Selection Committee of CAF report to him as
Chairman? Did he find it necessary to question the Committee
about the selection of El-Arjoune to officiate in the match?
Was he sure that El-Arjoune is so developed that he could
live above reproach and be unbiased following the statement
made by Ghana's Coach Claude Le Roy on the failure of the
Coordinator in charge of the maintenance to water the Ohene
Djan Stadium playing field for which the Coach was fined?
Coach Le Roy's statement scathed Moroccans and Muslims and
Referee El-Arjoune is a Moroccan and Muslims.
Having worked with El-Arjoune the CAF President knows him
very well. He must know that El-Arjoune has morbid dislike
for Ghana. The track record of this particular Referee
brings this out clearly and there is no need to belabour
this point.
One may retort: "What did the Ghana Football Association (GFA)
officials also do when they were told that El-Arjoune was to
officiate? Why did they not officially protest and even
refuse to honour the match unless he was changed? Our Elders
say; "se wo anksa wo ayie ho a wo yi wo ayi bone" to wit "if
a barber is cutting your hair and you do look into the
mirror and direct him he would end up giving you a haircut
you would not be happy with".
One hopes that the GFA would learn a few unpleasant facts
about organisations like CAF that are responsible for
organising sporting events.
There are always vested interests and these seek to
influence the outcome of such events. Talk of the gamblers
and other groups. GFA should also know that players on the
filed of play contribute only 45 per cent towards the
winning of matches whereas 55 per cent is determined in the
boardroom and behind the scene maneuvers.
By putting one and one together one cannot but once again
assert that the Black Stars did not lose the match against
Cameroon it was their handlers just as this writer had the
occasion to observe when the Team suffered a humiliating 5
-0 defeat in Saudi Arabia.
Stop crying Sulley Muntari. You did your best. Manuel Agogo
wipe off your tears, the future is bright. Kwame Boakye,
Lydia Boahen and all the children of Ghana, who went to bed
on Thursday without eating your food, do not worry any more.
Life is a journey on an uneven terrain; sometimes you get
down to the valley and other times you are on top of the
hill.
GNA
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