Ghanaian soccer player Sulley Muntari has apologised for his actions at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which saw him suspended from the Ghana national team.
Both the Ghana Sports Minister and his former coach Kwesi Appiah have spoken in support of his apology being accepted by the Ghanaian public and national team selectors.
The former AC Milan midfielder was given the indefinite ban after a physical attack on Moses Armah, a member of the Black Stars management team at the tournament in Brazil.
The Al Ittihad player sent a letter of apology to the Ghana Football Association recently, apologising for the events of two years ago, and making himself available should he be considered for selection for the Black Stars.
The apology came a few days after the team successfully qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and with World Cup qualifiers on the horizon for Russia 2018.
Reaction to the apology has been mixed in Ghana, but his national team coach at the time of receiving his ban has come out in support of giving Muntari a second chance.
“Muntari does not forgive, but I believe he is now an adult or grown man and has learnt to forgive so if he has come out to apologise, I think he must be forgiven as well,” Appiah told Angel FM, according to GhanaWeb.
Ghana Sports Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye has echoed those words to some extent, adding that he believes in second chances for Muntari.
“I don’t know about him coming back to the Black Stars because I don’t have the capacity and the mandate to decide who plays in the Black Stars,” the minister told TV3, according to AfricanFootball.
“I have heard his statement of apology and I think to some extent it is the right thing he has done. He is a Ghanaian who has realised that what he did in some way was improper and he has apologized and said I am available anytime you want my service, for me it is a good thing he did so it is to the coach to decide if he need him or he doesn’t need him.” Nii Lante said.
“But he now comes out and says ‘I am sorry’. I believe in second chances and I believe he is sincere with that apology because his colleagues have come out and defended him as well and I believe he has talked to them,” he added.
Ghana national team coach Avram Grant will no doubt be considering whether or not to call up the experienced midfielder for future Black Stars matches.
With their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda set for early September, the Ghanaian public will soon find out whether Muntari’s apology has allowed him to be considered for the national team once again.
