Coach J E Sarpong has revealed that the former Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Francis Oti Akenteng, was not respected by the Association.
He said there were instances where coaches were selected for the various national teams without his consent but he pretended to be aware because he was protecting his job.
In an interview with Frank Osei Owusu Winter on Onua 95.1FM on Wednesday, the former Asante Kotoko coach said during the era of the Normalisation Committee, Oti Akenteng was traveling with the Deputy General Secretary of GFA, Alex Asante, who doubled as the Head of National Teams Department, to South Africa but Dr Kofi Amoah told him he could not pay his airfare so he paid it himself.
Meanwhile, Alex Asante’s bills were catered for by Dr Amoah.
He mentioned that coach Oti Akenteng is the immediate past Technical Director but his name was not included in the team to interview the new applicants.
According to JE Sarpong, when asked why he has not been involved with various activities of the GFA, oti Akenteng’s response was: ‘I have been sidelined by the GFA because I’m loud. When I see any bad behaviour or dealings of members of the FA, I will say it. I don’t like to be cheated and moreso they also don’t like the truth so they wouldn’t want someone like to be around them’.
The former Black Meteors Assistant coach said he wants to see a functional technical directorate, which will make national teams at all levels very vibrant, and aside that the choice of Technical Director should not be based on nationality.
For him, all heads of the national teams should be under the Technical Director and if the directorate is devoid of interference, back biting and witch hunting, it will perform.
By Evelyn Anane & Bismark Kwaku Sarpong|Onua 95.1FM|3news.com|Ghana