Qatar 2022: It’s time to revive grassroot football and develop sustainable sports infrastructure – Sosu

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QATAR 2022: THE TIME IS RIPE TO REVIVE GRASSROOT FOOTBALL AND DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE SPORTING INFRASTUCTURE
BY

FRANCIS-XAVIER SOSU (ESQ)

BA, LLB, BL, LLM, MA, MPHIL

Background

Ghana became the first African country to book a ticket to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after holding Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in the Nigerian capital on Tuesday, March 29 2022, winning the tie-on away goals rule. Ghana will face Portugal, Uruguay and Korea Republic in the Mundial which commences later this November at Qatar, Western Asia, following the Draw on Friday, April 1, 2022. The Black Stars of Ghana are currently ranked 60th in the world and 11th in Africa.

World Cup Qualification Reinforces Need for Sustainable Sports Investment

Following our qualification to the Fifa World Cup Finals in Qatar later this year, the time is ripe for us as a country to use our qualification to the World Cup to revive grassroot football in Ghana.

To achieve this, we must fully support and take advantage of the current Black Stars Technical Team and put in place a comprehensive programme for sports development. We must also make conscious efforts to ensure needed investments in grassroot football and use sports as an avenue to empower Ghana’s Youth, build social cohesion and guarantee sustainable human and community development.

Considering the twin challenges of unemployment and economic hardships currently being faced in Ghana, we must put in place the right structures to achieve sustainable sports funding, infrastructure and Personnel in our efforts to achieve the Ghana we want and truly restore our national pride as the Black Star of Africa.

Conclusion

It is my hope and expectation that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Ministry of Youth and Sports will draw lessons from Ghana’s participation at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and use the opportunity of the qualification to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to revive grassroot football and develop sustainable sporting infrastructure in the country.

The writer, Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu, is a private legal practitioner, human rights activist, Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Member of the Appointments Committee, and Deputy Ranking Member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, with background expertise in Economics, Conflict, Security and Peace Studies. The writer can be contacted via: francisxavier.sosu@gmail.com www.madinamp.com