#ThrowbackThursday 10 POINTS _______________________ Between yesterday morning and now, Ive granted quite a number of interviews to radio stations across the country. Most of them have wanted to know what I have to say about Kwesi Appiahs response to this article of mine. On Good Evening Ghana on Monday, Paul Adom Otchere asked Appiah about the impression this article (and the subsequent commentary elsewhere, thereof) created. Ive seen a lot of people on Facebook also write that I deliberately tried to run down Appiah with this article. Lets clear a few things: 1. This article was done to offer perspective to what I thought, correctly, was a part of the Togo-Ghana game that was not shown to TV, ie, behind the scenes stuff. 2. My description of the Andre Ayew incidents (his reaction after being sent off and his offering instructions beside the coach) have been seen as a deliberate attempt, on my part, to undermine Kwesi Appiahs authority. Not true. 3. I am happy that at least Kwesi Appiah confirmed the FACTS of everything I wrote. Everything I wrote here happened, and Appiah has confirmed them in his subsequent interviews. 4. Kwesi Appiah clearly does not agree with me on INTERPRETATION, and he is within his right to do so. Appiah: [Andre] was telling Jordan to fall back and support in the midfield. 5. Clearly, Appiah does not agree with me on the significance of these incidents. He is 100% within his rights to do, especially as he was the coach. Thats his opinion. 6. I went to Togo to observe. And my interpretations may/may not have been right. But if I hadnt bothered to write this piece we wouldnt be having these discussions in the first place - and thats what journalism should be about. 7. Some have said I painted an exaggerated picture. Well, I say I offered my sincere thoughts on the situation. 8. I stopped doing he said/she said journalism long ago, so fact-based inferential/speculative pieces like this have been my style for years. Thats what I do. And Im not stopping anytime soon. 9. To reiterate, Kwesi Appiah and I remain good friends. I have huge respect for his personality and I have never attacked his person. I attack his approach to the job. I think that is fair. 10. After being around the Black Stars for quite awhile, my view stands: Kwesi Appiah did not have control over the players. And the happenings in Togo simply illustrated that. PS: Despite this view and my support of his sacking, I dont endorse how the FA went about it. #waakyejournalism
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 11:24:20 +0000