A founding member of Accra Great Olympics , Edward Aryee Armah has urged football administrators and players to desist from the practice of doling out monies on ‘ways and means’ as a way of winning football games.
In his view, the phenomenon was fake and unhelpful.
Instead, he called on them to strengthen their personal faith, work hard and be pragmatic, adding that, ‘these are what would guarantee success.
“The practice of ‘ways and means’ is not a new concept in Ghana football. As far back as the 1940s, football administrators and footballers engaged in the practice, but from my experience, it was a fruitless venture then and is a fruitless venture now.”
He insisted that monies that were spent on spiritualists by club administrators should be channelled to the playing body and the technical team and they would be amazed by the results that would manifest.
The 96-year old who played for the defunct Accra Standfast FC before moving to aid the formation of Accra Great Olympics as a player in April, 1954, said that was the secret of Olympics success in the 50’s.
“During my time as a player and later as an administrator of the club, we discouraged the idea of ‘ways and means’ and rather focused on the welfare of the players; applying practical solutions to the challenges and that made us a formidable force within a short period.”
Mr. Armah who spoke to Times Sports in an exclusive interview in Accra, expressed joy at Olympics sixth position in the just ended league season, adding that it was refreshing to see the club at the top competing fiercely as that was the vision of the founding fathers.
He said that despite last season’s remarkable feat especially on the back of a recent promotion, a challenge for the trophy should be the goal for the upcoming season as the current team was capable of such feat with a few re-enforcements.
Mr. Armah in his playing days was revered as a playmaker with a nimble-feet and exceptional dribbling skills and is credited for scoring Olympics first competitive goal against Great Ashantis in a challenge match in the club’s formative years.
BY ANDREW NORTEY & NANA BENTSI ODURO
