NANA FITZ SAYS : “GHANA SHOULD HAVE MADE MORE PROGRESS IN SPORTS”

Former Cornerstone player Nana Fitz has expressed disappointment over what he describes as Ghana’s slow progress in sports since independence. Speaking in an interview with Paul Napoleon on ICADTV Sports Scoreboard, Nana Fitz said Ghana should have advanced further in football compared to the achievements of earlier generations. “No Real Difference From Our Time” According to him, when he compares his playing days to the present era, he does not see significant improvement. “We should have made more progress than this. I haven’t seen much difference,” he stated. He criticized leadership and sports administrators, claiming that modern football management focuses more on money than development of the game. Sacrifice in the Old Days Nana Fitz recalled his time playing for Cornerstone and competing against clubs like Accra Hearts of Oak SC and Asante Kotoko SC. He said: Players trained only 20–30 minutes a day. There were no foreign (white) coaches at the time. When traveling from Kumasi to Accra for matches, players sometimes slept on tables due to lack of accommodation. Despite financial challenges and no winning bonuses (except for occasional end-of-year celebrations), they played for the love of the game. “With little money and sacrifice, we were able to win African trophies,” he emphasized. He contrasted this with today’s era of improved facilities and luxury, yet fewer major continental successes. Concerns Over Management and Finances Nana Fitz criticized football administration from the era of former GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi to the current administration under Kurt Okraku. He alleged that: Football administrators are more interested in money than development. Some FA members owning football clubs creates conflict of interest. National team selections may not always be based purely on merit. In the past, football associations accounted transparently for funds. He rated Kurt Okraku’s leadership at 25 percent out of 100. World Cup Budget and National Priorities Nana Fitz raised concerns about Ghana’s reported $13 million World Cup budget supported by FIFA. He questioned whether such spending is justified when teachers and nurses are reportedly owed salaries. He also suggested that taxpayer money used to fund football should give citizens greater influence in football elections and governance decisions. AFCON Qualification Disappointment When asked about Ghana’s failure to qualify for AFCON, Nana Fitz declined detailed comments, saying he would leave the judgment to viewers. However, he maintained that the Black Stars belong to the people and called on government authorities to protect public funds. Final Remarks Nana Fitz concluded that Ghana must: Refocus on genuine development of the game. Improve transparency and accountability. Ensure football administration serves national interest rather than personal gain. Balance sports investment with other national responsibilities. He stressed that football remains a proud part of Ghana’s identity, but meaningful reform is needed to restore its past glory.