Francis Oti Akenteng, the former technical director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has expressed his willingness to serve in the current administration.
Oti Akenteng served as the GFA’s technical director for fifteen years before leaving office when Kurt Okraku assumed the role of GFA president in October 2019. Although the GFA currently has German trainer Bernhard Lippert as the technical director, Oti Akenteng remains open to serving in any capacity within the association if called upon.
In an interview with sportscaster George Kuntu Blankson on Takoradi-based WestGold Radio, Oti Akenteng said, “To be very honest, this is done everywhere, but I even don’t know why I was removed from office even though I still have enough strength to work. I’m not the one running the association now but if they think I deserve to serve the association and they call, I will be glad to serve again”, the former Ghanaian Olympic athlete and coach told ace sportscaster George Kuntu Blankson in an interview on Takoradi-based WestGold Radio.
He further shared his accomplishments during his tenure, expressing his belief that he didn’t receive enough publicity for the substantial work he had done. Oti Akenteng mentioned that during his time in office, he handled every aspect required by the association, and he is still actively contributing behind the scenes to help Ghanaian football grow.
He even disclosed that he was invited to the launch of the football DNA initiative but chose not to attend as he didn’t contribute to it, despite his wealth of experience. Nevertheless, if the GFA needs his expertise, he won’t hesitate to serve Ghana football again.
“I did everything that needed to be done when I was in office but I didn’t get enough publicity for people to know the enormous works that I did. There’s nothing that did association is doing that I didn’t do during my tenure. But so far so good, we are working behind the scenes to help our football grow. I was even invited for the launch of the football DNA but I didn’t attend the event because I didn’t contribute to it despite the experienced I have gathered. If they [GFA] need me, I won’t decline the opportunity to serve Ghana football again.”
Throughout his career, Oti Akenteng held various positions at the GFA, starting in 2006 when he was appointed by the Confederation of African Football as Head of the Technical unit of the GFA. He was later elevated to FIFA level in 2009 as GFA Technical Director and Head of the Technical Centre, Ghanaman Centre of Excellence, Prampram. In March 2020, he left his position following the expiration of his contract.
