Muntari is Forgiven but can't be a part of the Black Stars

Sports/Black Stars/Muntari

By: Godlove Bamfo Tetteh 

Muntari should be forgiven but shouldn’t make AFCON

As the owners of English and Theologians put it, “to err is human and to forgive is divine,” so as Muntari has erred and needs to be forgiven by Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Ghanaians.

Muntari exhibited what the GFA described as troublesome behaviour during Ghana’s participation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He was suspended indefinitely from the Black Stars after ‘an unprovoked physical attack’ on Black Stars management member Moses Armah Parker at the tournament. However, after two years of the incident, he officially released an apology letter on Tuesday 7th June to GFA and Ghanaians, adding that he is available to play for the Stars any day.     

Based on the premise above, I think GFA needs to reconsider the apology letter of Sulley Ali Muntari and forgive him but they shouldn’t allow him to make an appearance for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.

I believe one may definitely asked why I am saying so. The reason is that, the 31 year old central midfielder who plays for Saudi Arabian club Ittihad FC has been Black Stars most influential player since making his debut for the Stars on 17th May, 2002 against Slovenia. Countless occasions has he misconducted himself against coaches, Black Stars management members and Ghanaians as a whole.

Therefore, a school of thought holds the view that the apology letter is a gimmick one by Muntari because he’s noted for that. In support to their point, this school of thought feels he has track record of indiscipline which led to him been dismissed from the team in Angola 2010 but turned a new leaf for South Africa 2010 which led to his inclusion in that final squad for the World Cup.

This same Muntari had a controversy with former Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac at the 2010 FIFA World Cup by allegedly insulting Milovan following his decision to bench the Ittihad midfielder in Ghana’s World Cup matches against Serbia and Australia. A report according to German Newspaper Kicker claimed. Rajevac reacted timely by sending Muntari home after discussing the matter with the GFA.

In 2013, he was suspended again for showing gross disrespect towards former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah about been unhappy over his substitution in the course of the game during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in Maseru. Nonetheless, he again apologised for that and was considered for Egypt vs Ghana game which eventually led to he been in the squad for Brazil 2014.  

Then, in 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a fight was ensued between him and Black Stars management team member, Moses Armah Parker over outstanding player appearance fees issue. This time he failed to render an apology on time which led to his exclusion of Ghana’s squad for the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea. He even turned down an opportunity to air his side of the story by declining an invitation to appear before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry.

Now, after two years he has seen the importance of rendering an apology to GFA and the nation as a whole. Hence, he therefore opened up on his readiness to play for the Black Stars.

This has raised many concerns from sports analysts and Ghanaian football fans. About 70 per cent of football lovers in the country are saying he should be forgiven but not be allowed to play in the upcoming AFCON in Gabon.

Mr Kwesi Ghansah, a top up student at Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) said Munatri is a good and talented player which is not in doubt, but he thinks the GFA had no choice than to accept his apology and therefore it’s only the coach who has the mandate to select him. He sincerely added that, he would be happy if Muntari is not picked by the coach for AFCON 2017 because the team has moved without him and currently he is not as fit as they used to know him for.

Mr Samuel Delali Zigah, a football analyst at Class FM said he thinks GFA should treat Muntari’s letter as how they would treat any player on any day and secondly, he doesn’t think Muntari would be important in Gabon 2017 because the Stars have a solid team already and more so; he is not as fast as they thought he would be.

Mr Proper Senyo, also from GIJ said Muntari should be forgiven because, he has served the country for several years. Moreover, he wasn’t the only one faulted by the commission. The minister of sports was also faulted, but he’s also still in government, so why single out only players for punishment. “Is it because the powerful are above the law?” he quizzed.

“As for whether he should play in AFCON 2017 that should be the coach’s decision depending on his current form. If I were coach however, I won’t select him because we have already had a young and winning team. Muntari is now in his 30’s and cannot play forever. So we need to trust the young generation to carry on without the old generation,” he said.  

Mr Mohammed Yusif, national service personnel at Urban Traffic Management also said “in order for GFA to prevent any more issues, they should accept the apology and afterwards tell him to apologise to Moses Armah Parker in a form of written letter to him. After Muntari doing all this, they should not give him call up until after the next AFCON.”

Mr Andrew Tagoe, a sports reporter at Vision One FM stated that GFA should accept Muntari’s letter. “We all make mistakes and if he finds it in his heart to apologise, then he should be forgiven no matter how long it took him,” he said.

“Personally, I think he is past it. We need to move on from the Muntari-Essien-Appiah generation and focus on this generation of stars,” He added.

However, about 30 per cent also held different views and they would wanted GFA to forgive Muntari and be included in the 2017 AFCON squad on the basis of experience.

Head of Sports at Radio Windy Bay in Winneba, Bright Kojo Fugar said he thinks Muntari needs to be forgiven as well as been given the second chance.

“We as a country should realise that it has been of 30yrs since we have the Black Stars being kings of Africa if not to be crowned champions at any minor or major football tournament. In chatting the map to conquer at AFCON 2017, Ghana will need experienced assets like Muntari, Paintsil and who knows Michael Essien in one capacity or the other,” he said.

Mr Thomas Fordjour, a public relations student at GIJ also said that he thinks the GFA should accept Muntari’s apology letter and play in the 2017 AFCON as well.

“Trust me, I would be extremely thrilled to see Sulley called back in the national team for the AFCON 2017 because, his experience is invaluable to the team,” he said. “Sulley has participated in all the major competition Ghana had been at. From qualifying to AFCONs and World Cups. Not forgotten he’s chipped some memorable goals along the way against Czech Republic in 2006 and Uruguay in 2010.

“Again, I think the quality we have in midfield now is not enough which makes it even more important to call Sulley back into the national team,” he added.

Finally, Mr Justice Annan, a final year student at University of Education, Winneba said he would want to see Muntari at the 2017 AFCON in Gabon.

“In my candid opinion I want the FA to do away with their selfish interest and accept the apology at once,” he said.

“I would want to see him in Gabon because, we need experience in the senior national team if it’s our priority as a country to win the 2017 AFCON. We also need competition amongst the players to avoid complacency,” he added.

Well, no man is perfect on earth and I don’t stand at a perfect position to declare whether Muntari should make 2017 AFCON or not. The power lies in the hands of the Coach Avram Grant but I think Muntari’s case has become unbearable now, thus, he needs to be excluded from the upcoming AFCON and be monitored for some time to see if he’s really remorseful for his action then that the nation could give him another opportunity may be for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Again, it’s clear that Ghana has already built the Black Stars with young players such as Christian Atsu, Andre Dede Ayew, Wakaso Mubarak, Frank Achempong, Afriyie Acquah and Kwadwo Asamoah who might possibly return from injury for the AFCON. In view of this, Muntari’s position has been sealed by these player. So the question is, who sacrifice his position for him?

Lastly, I think his presence would not be needed because after all Ghana has made it to the finals of the AFCON two time without his inclusion. Muntari played for the Stars in 2006 AFCON, but the Stars were eliminated from the competition at the group stage. He also played in the 2008 AFCON which was hosted by Ghana and the Stars finished third. But the nation moved all the way to the finals of the 2010 AFCON in Angola and 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea without his service and they won silver.

With this, I am sure readers are much convinced that Muntari should be forgiven but shouldn’t make 2017 AFCON in Gabon?