SERVICE ENDS TODAY

All graduates from Ghanaian tertiary institutions must complete a one year national service. Every year several ten of thousands of graduates are posted to various sectors as service personnel.

 I smile with friends as the national service ends today. I smile with pride, knowing that I have served my country well.  I love my country so much that when the small allowance wasn’t paid on time I never gave up going to work. Sometimes the delayed of the allowance makes living difficult for those of us who were traveling from long distance to work.

  It has not been easy at all during the service. Sometimes, I have to walk from circle to ministries due to the delay of allowance. I have to be economical to able to go to work why because I wanted served country with dignity and pride. I wanted to be a patriotic citizen. Today, I bow out graciously into the elites of extraordinary employees as one of the benefits.

Perhaps the first and biggest benefit people can ever get from national service is the satisfaction of incorporating service into their lives and making a difference in their community and country. The intangible benefits alone such as pride, satisfaction, make new friends and accomplishment are worthwhile reasons to serve. But there are other benefits as well tangible benefits such as awards, job and education certifications, professional development, and more.

What I will advise the up- coming graduates is that, think of what you can do when you give your time to help your community or where you were posted.

Help your community: Know that you are giving your time, talent, wisdom, and experience to your community and neighbors who need you.

Help yourself: Through service, you can add to the quality and health of your life. Research indicates that volunteers enjoy better health, make new friendships, stay active and involved in the community, and learn new skills.

Make a difference: Be part of a national movement to transform Ghana through the involvement of its national service.

GREAT MOMENTS OF EL CAPITANO TORNADO

As the week passes by, I had the gratification of reading so many magical and great moments of Stephen Appiah also known as ‘Tornado’ paid farewell to his football career, there is no doubt that, in his moments  the Black Stars jersey provided the best memories.

He was not one of those who can count many cups and many tournaments to their names. Even though he had many disappointments, he didn’t let all the challenges weight him down. He didn’t play that much under Guiseppe Dosena when Ghana co-hosted the competition in 2000, was injured for the 2002 edition. His captainship for the Black Stars collapsed in the first round at the 2006 Nations Cup in Egypt.

Despite the challenges he faced, he was one of those exceptional players for whom international football seemed to bring more fame and acceptance than club career. He has some good times at Parma, Brescia, won a Serie A title with Juventus and enjoyed good standing with Fernabahce in Turkey and other teams.

 Hey!!! the moments we would remember Stephen Appiah for, the moments that sticks most, is the moments that attracted so many people in Ghana, on the continent and the world was with the Black Stars over a brief two or three years period.

Some people say the magical moments for him was his pass for Asamoah Gyan in the game against the Czech Republic; Against Czech Republic, things needed to change and Appiah was there to ensure that. He sat in midfield with Michael Essien and made a mockery of the famed Czech giants of Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky. It was also his delightful 2nd minute pass that set up Asamoah Gyan for Ghana’s first ever world cup goal.

Others say it was his performance as Ghana thrashed South Africa 3-0 in Kumasi. He scored twice.  Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah, were two players who completely bossed the South Africans in midfield and ensured that game was played at Ghana’s pace.

Others still point out to his performance in South Africa as Ghana won 2-0, especially with his assist for Michael Essien. Indeed, that assist gave Ghanaian way too many magical moments of Stephen Appiah.
But for me, the best moments and my favourite Tornado game was the 4-1 win against Nigeria on a cold night in London in February 2007. He was selfishless.  He was just releasing the ball for his team-mates that day and eventually, he was involved in all of the four goals. Instead going for the glory, he concentrated on setting his team-mates up during that game.

 I remember that particular night I was so happy that, I even forgot to eat. I will never forget that night in my life time as long as I live.
 Ayeekooooo!!!!!! EL Capitano Tornado. I wished you well in life as you say bye to your playing career.

 #celebratingStephenAppiah a true Legend!!!!

Football Isn't Football Anymore

Football has become the most body recently. It isn’t like back in those days that it was a world class source of entertainment. I must say the Fédération Internationale de Football Association FIFA, being the international governing body of association football is losing it bench mark.

  

African Governments continue to pump millions into football without any meaningful returns. But when there is brazen corruption by football Associations and its officials in Africa and the government tries to initiate investigations especially in Ghana,

Noo, No way, we won’t allow this to happen to our beautiful game of the nation. Football is our passion and only joy that united us. I swear we will go to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association being the international governing body of association football (soccer) FIFA…… This is Interference and FIFA will ban us. FIFA is autonomous and football is autonomous.

And now that there is suspicion hanging around and the autonomus FIFA officials are arrested for corruption, then where will be our term of reference now?  I can say that indeed football Isn't Football Anymore, rather it has become world market business center for the exchange of goods and services with ‘assets and liquidity’  

“They are accused of racketeering, fraud and money laundering, including charges of receiving bribes to influence the outcome of bids to stage football tournaments, such as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2016 Copa America in the US.”

When police raided the luxury Baur au Lac hotel, overlooking Lake Zurich early on Wednesday, it was not the curtain-raiser that Fifa's Sepp Blatter had in mind for his likely re-election as president of football's world governing body in two days' time.

Many view Friday's election as more of a ceremonial coronation than a democratic ballot, but the dramatic arrest of Fifa officials in their hotel rooms will cast a dark cloud over proceedings.

Suspicion has hung about Fifa for years, and although Mr Blatter is not thought to be implicated following the arrests of seven top Fifa officials on Wednesday, one has to wonder - why is he so determined to carry on in the top job? When the governing body of association football is mired in crisis over a growing corruption scandal.

  

So now that the autonomous has been stripped naked, now that FIFA officials can be arrested and charged. Now that our gods have been exposed, who do we pray to?

Football "Mafia" Must Stop. Stealing from the beautiful game must stop. Football Corruption Must stopped.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL IS "LIMPING BEHIND"SAYS FIFA BOSS SEPP BLATTER

credit: BBCSPORTS

Fifa boss Sepp Blatter says women's football is "limping behind" the men's game in both profile and sponsorship. Blatter also thinks football is too "macho" and wants governing bodies around the world to employ more females in positions of influence.

History says in the year 2004, Sepp Blatter, was heavily criticised for suggesting female footballers play in "tighter shorts" to improve the game's popularity. But he says he feels like "a little bit of a godfather" to women's football.

Sepp Blatter who is seeking a fifth term as president of world football's governing body said "Women's football is still limping behind a little bit;" he said "To get new partners for women's football is difficult because the focus is on men's football."

In an interview with BBC Global News, Blatter also said:

• women's football is not yet played "the way he would like it to be played", citing a lack of organised leagues in some countries
• female access to football stadia remains a "problem" in parts of the world, like Saudi Arabia and Iran, because of cultural issues
• he wants to change the Fifa statutes to make it easier for women to occupy positions of power around the globe

The number of women on the committee is currently one, after Burundi's Lydia Nsekera became the first - and so far only - female elected onto it in 2013. Lydia Nsekera is also a member of the International Olympic Committee

Moya Dodd, Asian Football Federation vice-president, and Sonia Bien-Aime, president of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association, are also on the executive committee but as co-opted members. Last month, Bien-Aime also became the first female elected onto the executive committee of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football.

In response, Karen Espelund, the only female member of Uefa's executive committee, said that women can "add value" to football and football's appeal. "Football is by far the biggest sport in the world and the professional men's football is an extremely strong position," said the Norwegian. "Girls and women add value to the total product and I find it a little bit strange that not more commercial people see that possibility."

Blatter also confirmed he will attend this summer's Women's World Cup  in Canada "whatever the result" of the presidential election. Starting next month on Saturday 6^th June with the first match Can vs CHN at commonwealth Stadium and consisting of 24 teams and 52 matches, it will be the biggest women's football tournament in history.

Blatter said it was a big opportunity to showcase the women's game and said it was "up to the ladies" to put on a great event. "There will be over 20 cameras in each stadium, there will be goal-line technology and there will be a lot of the public there," he added.  

Sepp Blatter,FIFA president  said, this time, he wants more action on women's game.