Life has been cruelly unfriendly to many people; conversely, others have been at the gleaming end of the same rod.

It is often said life is generally unfair. Others say, life is how you make it. Well, it depends on which side of this philosophy you belong.

Admittedly, however, one could be struck by a whammy of misfortune when least expected.

The story of former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, is still freshly etched on the minds of Ghanaians and the world at large.

Nyantakyi, was the First Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) – just a step away from becoming the eventual boss, when he was removed from office and subsequently banned, following the Anas Aremeyaw Anas Number 12 Investigations that exposed some heart-rending rot in Ghana and African football.

Some believe the exit of Nyantakyi was a finely-orchestrated one by his ‘avowed enemies’ who could not stand his meteoric rise  – from West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B boss, CAF Veep to FIFA Council member, having occupied the GFA seat too for a decade and three years.

It was very pathetic the way Nyantakyi, the man whose administration took Ghana to its first World Cup (Germany 2006) – topping up with two more Mundials (South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014), ended an otherwise illustrious, magnificent career.

Indeed, several experts and disciples of the continental game had predicted Nyantakyi was going to become the first Ghanaian CAF President.

Willy-nilly, it is history now and we can only learn from the bitter past as we plunge into what seemed to be an unknown but bubbling future.

Gracefully, the current President of the GFA, Kurt E.S Okraku, was recently co-opted onto the Executive Committee of CAF, a position that could be made regular in the coming months, all things being equal. It is good news! It is what Ghana needs!

Like Nyantakyi, Kurt was unanimously approved as the WAFU Zone B President, coming on the heels of his election as Ghana FA boss. 

Nature has a way of rewarding people; sometimes harshly and other times pleasantly smooth. But whatever happens to you might be an upshot of present or previous engagements, especially with those who appear closest to you.

It is the reason Kurt would have to take a leaf from Nyantakyi’s never-to-be-forgotten experience so he does not fall into that damning pit.

As he silently aspires to work his socks off to the summit of African and world football, he has to be cautious with those he call friends and cronies.

People who will plot his downfall would not descend from space; they are close to him – and dine with him. Of course, there are very loyal ones amongst them and we need no one to tell Kurt who they are!

For now, let us as a people goad Kurt on – give him the needed backing in his quest to climb the higher echelons of football.

The usual attitude of shooting ourselves, pulling ourselves down and killing our own selves must be discarded for the common Ghanaian interest.

Let’s protect him. Let’s guide him. Let’s pray for him for he has few more steps to climb.

PlainTalk With John Vigah