The late music maestro Barry White’s composition “Let the Music Play” was one of my favourite songs. I would like to paraphrase it this way and say,” Let the Game Play”. This is in reference to all those non- football people who are unconsciously giving this simple game for the masses all sorts of coloration to confuse them.

I am happy the virus that threatened to disrupt Ghana’s celebration of the just ended FIFA Under-20 World Cup triumph in Egypt has been brought under control.

I was fully backing soccer crazy Ghanaians in expressing delight that the Black Satellites success in Egypt had swiftly shifted politics to the background when we were suddenly confronted with a situation where some self styled “men of God” started making claims for being responsible for the victory. The nation was alarmed. People were running for cover.

“Oh no, let the game play. Don’t let this become a storm in a tea cup”, I prayed. And the Good Lord has answered my prayer. The threat of distraction from this brilliant World Cup feat has vanished. Despite all the huge publicity surrounding the claim by spiritualists and the alleged involvement of Satellites coach Sellas Tetteh in the whole drama, it has been established that Ghana won the cup on merit. You may say Dame luck, that indefinable element, was on the side of the Satellites in the final match judging from the way Brazil kept missing a lot of glaring chances but never lose sight of the fact that Ghanaians innately believe that God is a Ghanaian.

There are a lot of soothsayers and fortune tellers around the circuit but none of them can claim to be responsible for Ghana’s brilliant show in Egypt which is so significant that a whole Presidential Commission has been set up to plan how the Satellites should be rewarded by the state.

Cheers everybody and let the game play

Oct 27 1993: A seven member Professional League Board to steer professional league football in Ghana has been inaugurated by the Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. E.T.Mensah.

Zac Bentum, veteran football administrator is chairman and E.O.Lamptey,a Chartered Accountant vice.

Other members are W.K.Agrah of University of Ghana, secretary Joe Aggrey, sports journalist, Major Yaw Larsen, Kofi Harlley of Registrar General’s Dept and Kojo Quarshie, businessman.