"We have been disrespected"- Rugby Association President laments

President of Ghana Rugby Football Association, Herbert Mensah, is unhappy with the lukewarm attitude government and other key arms as the National Sports Authority (NSA), as well as the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) are showing towards lesser-known sports in Ghana, especially rugby.

Speaking in an interview, Mr. Herbert said, “the NSA, government, GOC have not been as forthcoming as we would have hoped that they would be. With the change of government, we are hoping that there might be a better approach to minority sports”

He disclosed that, “We try and impress on the system that there’s an obligation – a moral obligation, an ethical obligation to provide for all sports, and you cannot ask people to wear the national jersey, represent he state and be absent in your responsibility”.

He observed that there had been numerous complaints about how as a nation, "we only appear to focus mainly on football, especially the Black Stars, to the detriment of other sports. There have also been endless calls for more involvement and financial commitment by government and other state agencies toward the development of other sport in the country."

“Rugby is the second most popular sport in the world. Why is it that it is not really felt in Ghana? Why is that there is no funding for it in Ghana? Why is it that successive governments have given absolutely nothing to the game?”, Mr Mensah asked. 

He described as disrespectful, government’s attitude regarding providing requisite support for rugby in the country, especially as the GRFU prepares to host, and participate in forthcoming international tournaments.

He suggested that there has to be first, a dialogue, "because that means you respect us. Where there is no dialogue, then there is no respect, and there has been no dialogue, so we have been disrespected over there since I got involved in rugby, by senior administrators who are happy to take public office but not serve the people.”

That notwithstanding, Mr. Mensah expressed his satisfaction at the progress of players, and the overall pace at which the game is developing, though he admitted that there was still much to be done.

"Injuries were at a minimum, the quality of play has improved massively, we showed levels of physicality that I’ve not seen in the two-and-half years or so that I’ve been around. We saw fitness levels which have improved rapidly although again, not quite where I want it to be. I want Ghana rugby to have levels of fitness that are global," he stated.

He also disclosed steps that the union is taking to ensure that we sustain Africa’s positive perception of Ghana rugby’s professionalism, including administrative apparatus in the area of compliance and governance, accounting, statistics and data.

On the mental requirement of the game, he emphasised the essence of spirit and resilience to success: “rugby is a character issue. Winners are made not from natural talent but from character. Who’s prepared to dig in where the odds are against you? Who’s prepared to fight when it seems as though you're going to lose. Whose instinct, based upon training and discipline can take you to the next point?” he said.

GBC