Let us be plain. Let us be clear and true. Every organisation or corporate institution not necessarily owned or headed by a politician but then operating in a typical, partisan and polarised political environment like ours would do what Nsoatreman FC did.
Some commentators say, they publicly put their General Manager, Eric Alagidede on a noose. However true that may seem, the club was stating in no ambiguous terms that his personal views on the NPP campaign promise to give buses to Ghana Premier League clubs do not represent that of the club.
It is often difficult to isolate the views of leaders from that of the entities they lead particularly when those views are uncomplimentary in the opinion of the public. Those views would easily make news because like it or not, negative sells fast. At the public square, leaders must always be wary of what they say.
One thing is unmistakably true to me in my analysis of the issue. The Board of Nsoatreman FC are being politically correct, even if we are accepting that their General Manager’s view, that the bus promise to GPL clubs by Dr. Bawumia is superfluous, must not be taken to be that of club especially when the bankroller of the club is of the NPP.
What the club’s Board and Management are not seeing is that their General Manager spoke the language of domestic football fans who know the problems of our club football and can tell that buses to GPL clubs would not necessarily improve their lot.
Nsoatreman, as a matter of corporate practice, can distance themselves from their manager’s views but on the ground, it will change nothing. Football fans across the country, who are voters too, appreciate the reality better. In their political correctness, Nsoatreman are detaching themselves from reality.
Anyway, do not blame Dr. Bawumia for the bus promise. In 2023, the GFA President, Kurt Okraku, in a typical campaign speech, made a similar yet-to-be-fulfilled promise to Division One clubs. At that, even the Kurt diehards knew it was a wild campaign pledge. Some did not believe that it was what the clubs needed.
Therefore, Eric Alagidede’s opinion on the bus promise and whether it is realistic or necessary now, is not new to the domestic football populace. The politicians can make their promises about anything, but the people know which one is necessary to their present state of life.
Nsoatreman can also react any way they want to, either in tandem with organisational practice or political correctness. The reality, over time, will always dawn on all of us. For my friend Eric, known for his frank, assertive views, please next time, be sure your superiors will accept what you say before you go public. You are a good football brain.
By Jerome Otchere