Interview: Exclusive Chat With Ajaasuma Naantaba, A Seasoned Football Analyst, Scout And Player Agent
Ajaasuma Naantaba is one of Upper West’s pride in the nation’s capital Accra who is a football fanatic as well as a scout and agent and a very enthusiastic West Ham United faithful in Ghana
In an exclusive wide range of questions on his support for West Ham United, football talents in the Upper West region as well as the nation at large
Welcome to this great platform Mr. Ajaasuma as the interview gets set and in reply, he said ” It a pleasure speaking with you. I will first of all give thanks to the Almighty Allah for His guidance and protection throughout my entire life to this far”
A young man who has had all his educational levels down in the region and spent almost his life and youthful age in the region before relocating to the nation’s capital where he began his career path as a football scout and agent as well now embrassed himself up to the interview
Speaking on talents in the region and nation as well, he said “It’s amazing the number of talents found down here in the northern part of Ghana and precisely the Upper West region where I grew up and played actively during my youthful age as well. Growing up in the region, there have been great talents since the days of Upper West Heroes, Kwamax, Yellow Masters as well Boca Juniors before recently Wa All Stars SC now known in the elite top-flight league as Legon Cities Football Club as well as division one side Wa Suntaa SC has produced notable names like Maxwell Konadu, Issah Mohammed, Najahu Issah, Malik Jabir, Awudu Issahaka, Sadat Bukari, Seidu Dabo Dawaideen and quite recently the likes of Ismail Ganiu, Hafiz Adams, Hafiz Wontah, Robert Dabuo, Issahaku Wahidu, Ibrahim Imoro, Zakaria Issahaque, Wahidu Mumuni just to mention a few”
He further said “It is unfortunate because much more talents are in the region but will be difficult to unearth due to the lack of logistics and support as well as financial backing to help in doing so. As a scout who have spent more time in the region trying to spot such talents and helping them nurture their God given talents and potentials it has been a pleasure and delight to spot numerous of such talents in the region and is of my hope that all efforts can be utilized to achieve such highs”
On the nation at large, he said “There are talents in abundance in the nation and majority of such can be found in almost all the remote areas in the nation and to help unearth such talents, high ranking members and co operate society ought to turn their attention as well as resources to such course. Recommendation to the Baby Jet foundation and others who are doing so through colts football”
He also bemoaned the non existence of a premier league club in the region as well as the other Northern parts of the country and feel it might as well contribute to the failure to unearth talents from the region and the Northern belt at large “The non existence of a premier league club in the Northern belt will go a long way to make it impossible for majority of such talents to be unearthed in the regions and the nation at large”
On the return of football in the country for over 18 months without active league, he further added ” It’s great to have the league back and football running normal in the country again after such tough time with the Anas’ expose on corruption in the game. Hopefully we will see a lot of improvement in the game moving forward and hopeful the Mr. Kurt Okraku led administration can help bring back the love they have been championing since voted into power to lead the Football Association”
“Performance and results from all the teams in the league will be key to the goal of seeing more and more fans filling in the match venues and also officiating should be at it’s best throughout the season as consistency is key”
“Agents and scouts from the international world will now the opportunity to move into the country to scout and it help the progress of developing talents in the nation”
On his impression for his beloved Westham so far in the season, he said “It has been an up and down season for the Hammers after the first half of the campaign as we have struggled for results and hasn’t been favoured in terms of injuries to key players as well. We expected a better season than what we experienced last season but it has been disappointing as Manuel Pellegrini got short of ideas and couldn’t motivate or inspire the lads any longer”
“I wasn’t surprised with the club’s decision to part ways with him considering how the team was struggling and with the money he spent on new signings it was expected we could do much more than we were doing. To be in the relegation battle after all the money spent was unacceptable”
On the return to the club of David Moyes ” Am glad the club made a decision as quick as possible after the departure of Manuel Pellegrini and to bring Moyes back in such a tough time is a good call and hopeful he can help lift the team from the drop zone. He is an experienced manager and has been in the premier league over ages and that will absolutely help”
“It was a good sign for him to return and mastermind an emphatic victory in his first game since his return against struggling Bournemouth on new year day” For now it should be more about trying to escape from the drop zone if he can navigate through with a couple of positive results from now to the end of the season”
“Hopeful with the transfer window officially opened, he can add one or two new faces to the squad and get the ground running as soon as possible”
“Am optimistic we will definitely find our to the top half of the table before the end of the season if we can continue with such a possible start against Bournemouth”
By: Kanyiri Suburu Lucio/@SuburuAbdulai