The support for Mr. George Afriyie, one of the front runners in this weekend’s Ghana Football Association (GFA) presidential election keeps increasing.
The latest to throw his support behind Mr.Afriyie is the Patron of chapter 51 for Hearts of Oak (Legon Chapter), Mr. Wonder Victor Kutor.
Speaking in an interview with The Herald, Wonder Kutor was emphatic when he said it is an obvious win for Mr. Afriyie.
Enumerating the reasons for endorsing George Afriyie, chapter 51 patron said George’s commitment to grassroots football is impeccable.
“The state of our football has taken a nosedive because of the neglect by past leaders even though that is the backbone of discovering and nurturing talents”, he noted.
“For a man who has shown total commitment to developing grassroots football I am left with no doubt than to endorse Mr. Afriyie’ a candidature”, he added.
As someone who once chaired juvenile soccer in Ghana, Kutor indicated that Mr. Afriyie’s competence has already been ascertained at that level when he was given the mandate.
According to Chapter 51 for Hearts of Oak patron on Legon campus, Afriyie’s experience with managing grassroots football will not allow him to focus on only the senior national team, the Black Stars but other sectors as well.
The focus on the Black Stars, Mr Kutor explained is one of the reasons other levels of the country’s sports have not blossomed because past leaders of the football association did not see the need.
“Mr. Afriyie is, therefore, going to turn this status quo which is expected to restore the glory of other levels in competitive tournaments by winning medals”, he pointed.
This weekend’s presidential election is seen to be a straight race between Fred Pappoe who is a former Vice President of the Football Association and George Afriyie who was also a Vice President.
Although there are four other candidates, Wonder Kutor believes George Afriyie will emerge victorious against his closest contender Fred Pappoe.
The other aspirants are Kurt Okraku who was once a chairman of the Football Association Cup and former member of the Executive Committee
Another candidate in the race is Nana Yaw Amponsah who also worked as a Federation of Football Association (FIFA) agent and sports lawyer.
George Ankomah, a human rights lawyer and sports enthusiast is also in the race as well as Amanda Clinton who is a Lawyer.
In all of these, Kutor indicated that George Afriyie who is known to be a transparent and accountable leader stands tall and will come out as the eventual winner.
“Expect him to show proper accountability and transparency because that is what defines him and all the leadership positions he has occupied”, Mr. Kutor stressed.
The GFA president position became vacant after the world governing body, FIFA found the then president, Kwesi Nantakyi of wrongdoing when an undercover investigation by ace Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas revealed bribery and corruption.
FIFA constituted a normalization committee which was to manage the Ghanaian football until a substantive president was elected.
The work of the normalization committee ended with supervising some reforms leading to the opening of nominations for those who become the President for a four-year mandate which can be renewed.