The euphoria created by the 26th Africa Cup of Nations tournament has virtually died down and discussions on the performance of the Black Stars have reached their sunset level. It is now time for us to switch the searchlight on how football is being administered in the country. In other words, now is the time to take a closer look at how those noble men tasked with the responsibility of managing our football affairs to ensure a successful local league and raise winsome national teams are doing their work. Whether we like it or not, the type of football administrators we have has a direct bearing on the outcome of any national assignment we undertake. This is because by their decisions, actions, inaction and judgements, we shall reap rich laurels or come home vanquished and disgraced. We know that in the past those who offered to run the various football teams or serve on the governing board, that is, the Ghana Football Association (GFA), did so voluntarily for their love for the game. That was why players of yesteryears deemed it personal achievements and pride to wear the national jersey in major competitions without a second thought about monetary gains. Everything has changed. Football, like many other sporting events, has become serious business and all those who indulge in it, one way or another, have their eyes glued first and foremost to the financial benefits that will accrue from their efforts. So whether as a player, a coach, a sponsor or an administrator, the words 'patriotism', 'nationalism' and 'voluntarism' have very little meaning. Even those who claim to be ardent supporters of the national teams have been proved to have gone for the monetary gains. It is, therefore, not a big deal if those who run the affairs of our football make sure that they do not go home empty-handed. But that should be after a good job has been done and the client decides to give a good handshake to show appreciation. After all, you can't feed a hungry child without licking your fingers! However, afler a closer look, it appears that the nation is being led on a kind of monkey business lane. You want to know why? Take a good look at our FA and its members. It is more or less like a club of team owners or managers coming together for the common purpose of serving their interests under the guise of helping the country called Ghana. And these are people who are supposed to ensure a fair and impartial league so that at the end of the day only the best could be good for Ghana. These are people who, directly or indirectly, have a hand in the selection of players to constitute the national teams and who must make sure that only the best find their way into the teams. Let us take a critical look at the membership of the FA and see whether we are in normal times or people are just playing absurd games with the Ghanaian public. The first name that comes to mind is Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, the President of the FA and at the same time Chairman of Wa All Stars, a Premier Division club. The second person, Mr Fred Pappoe, is the Vice-President of the FA and Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee. As if Mr Pappoe's hands are not full enough, he is also the Board Chairman of Midjland Football Club, a Division One team. Mr Randy Abbey is an Executive Committee Member of the FA, Chairman of the Management Committee of the Black Meteors and Director of Communications of the FA. Outside the FA, . Mr Abbey is the Chief Executive of Kessben Football Club, a Premier Division football team. Mr Fred Crentsil is an Executive Council Member of the FA and Board Chairman of St. Mirren, a Division One football club. As if that is not enough, Mr Crenstil is also a member of the FA's Purchasing Committee, heads the Women's League Board which is inactive and again chairs the Black Queens Management Committee. So, one may ask, are these people on the FA serving the interest of Ghana football or as representatives of their clubs? Incidentally, these are people who would want the players of their teams to get international exposure so that they can go on to win lucrative contracts with foreign clubs. You see where the conflict of interest lies? Are we going to get a fair bargain as a nation if it comes to player selection for the national teams with the people with so much personal ambition in charge of affairs? Where is the guarantee that there will be transparency, fairness and competitiveness in tbe national league if key personalities on the FA are themselves interested parties as club owners/managers? By all means those who want to do business should be allowed to do so, as long as they operate within the laws of the land. I, however, do not consider it a fair deal for people to hide behind the national interest to do private business. I do not believe in indispensability and those on the FA must make a choice to run their own football clubs or serve with unalloyed loyalty. There should be no divided attention. Source: Daily Graphic/kofiakordo.blogspot.com