The forthright football administrator, Alhaji Karim Gruzah of Premier League side, King Faisal, is admonishing Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac to be wary of some “mafias” in the squad whose actions could destabilize the team.
Commenting on the back of a recent rancour in the Black Stars' camp between the coach and Sulley Muntari, he said the former’s decision to sack the latter would have been disastrous for the country’s qualification to the next stage of the ongoing World Cup in South Africa.
In an interview with Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on Friday ahead of Ghana’s crucial 1/16 clash against USA Saturday, Alhaji Karim Gruzah warned: “You know all our players are not disciplined players. We have some mafia players in our team, sacking Sulley Muntari can bring so many things…”
He noted that the Stars could have faced the same fate that befell the 2006 World Cup first runners-up, France, to bow out of the 2010 edition at the group stage after sacking Nocolas Anelka for similar indiscipline.
Alhaji Gruzah said when the issue first came up, he called and advised the chairman of the Ghana Football Association Kwesi Nyantakyi to ask the coach to rescind his decision.
However, he was quick to add that “if I were the coach after they have talked to me I would not use him”.
Commenting on some of the players, the administrator of the Kumasi-based King Faisal football club was full of praise for Andre Dede Ayew for his spectacular performance so far.
He said the 20-year-old lad has justified his inclusion in the squad and has been able to prove his critics wrong, describing him as a “champion player”.
Touching on the rather ‘unimpressive’ performance of Prince Tagoe, a man christened as the Prince of Goals by his fans, Alhaji Gruzah could not come to terms with the reason why the coach has consistently being fielding him in his starting line-up.
Obviously not “satisfied” with his output in the team so far, the football administrator urged the coach to "drop Prince Tagoe”, to be replaced by either Dominic Adiyiah or Quincy Owusy-Abeyie.
On skipper Stephen Appiah, he thinks he would have been profitable on the technical bench rather than being an integral part of the team.
Even though Michael Essien, one of the key players Ghana could have boasted of in the ongoing World Cup in South Africa, failed to make it due to injury, Alhaji Gruzah said the cohesion of the team and their performance does not make the nation to feel Essien’s absence.
“I don’t rely on a player, I rely on team…Ghana is still playing without Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah…” he noted.
The experienced football administrator was upbeat about Ghana’s chances against the USA and the entire tournament.
“I believe Ghana will go far Insha Allah…we need prayers…Ghana will beat USA.”
Alhaji Grunsah also raised concerns about the inability of Ghana’s strikers to find the back of the net. For Black Stars lead striker Asamoah Gyan, he advised him to minimize the “selfishness…he is doing well but should release the ball” to his colleagues.
Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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