Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum, a former coach of Asante Kotoko, has emphasized the importance of having a National Football Philosophy in Ghana.
As a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, he understands the significance of a well-defined football DNA and how it has contributed to the success of many countries.
Dr. Ogum believes that while the impact of a National Football Philosophy may not be immediate, it will be appreciated over time.
He spoke about the need for Ghana to have a clearly-defined style of play that can be recognized and associated with the nation.
“We need it very much,” he said after the launch of the document.
“A DNA is an identity and tells how you play. So as a nation, we should have a clearly-defined way of play.
He emphasized that this DNA should be evident not only in the national teams but also in club football, especially in international and continental competitions.
Dr. Ogum pointed to the North African teams as an example, stating that their style of play is distinct and easily recognizable.
“And it should be characteristic of almost all the teams when they are playing. In the terms of the national teams and our clubs, we should be able to see traces of that when we play international/continental games.
In conclusion, Dr. Ogum stressed the importance of having a clearly defined characteristic in Ghanaian football to propel the nation forward.
He believes that developing a National Football Philosophy will provide Ghana with an identity and a distinct way of playing that can contribute to success at both national and club levels.
“We really need it. If you look at the North Africans, you can easily tell how they play. It’s a characteristic and so we also need a clearly defined characteristic to move us forward.” he noted.
