Young Apostles head coach, William Afoakwa, has ignited a firestorm in Ghanaian football after making bold allegations that suggest matches in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) are not being decided by coaching strategies or player performances, but by a hidden tug-of-war between club owners and referees.
Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based Sikka FM, Afoakwa didn’t mince words as he painted a worrying picture of the state of Ghana’s top-flight competition.
According to Afoakwa, most coaches are reduced to bystanders during games.
“We, the coaches in the Ghana Premier League, are just following the team. For it is the team owners and referees that are playing the matches,” he said.
The candid statement, which has quickly gone viral, has intensified ongoing concerns about the credibility of officiating and potential match manipulation within the league.
Despite steering the club to safety after taking over from Asare Bediako and Bashiru Rahim earlier in the season, Afoakwa’s comments have been met with a mixture of outrage, support, and concern.
While some in the football community have dismissed the claims as exaggerated frustration from a struggling coach, others say Afoakwa has merely spoken out loud what many insiders have long whispered in private.
The Ghana Premier League has faced numerous allegations of favouritism, poor refereeing, and behind-the-scenes influences in recent years, issues that have repeatedly cast doubts on the integrity of results.
Young Apostles narrowly avoided relegation in their maiden GPL campaign.
The Wenchi-based club finished 14th on the league table with 40 points.
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