A former Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, is calling on Ghanaians to support the Black Stars and desist from unnecessarily criticising the players. Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe says supporting the Black Stars is the only way Ghana can beat US come Saturday in the one-sixteenth stage of the 2010 World Cup tournament underway in South Africa. Speaking in an interview on Asempa Morning Sports Thursday, the former F.A Chairman stated that the coach knows best what he wants to do and that is why he has been employed. “What we have to do is to support them than the numerous unqualified coaches we have across the country who have been criticizing the coaches and the boys. It doesn’t happen anywhere in the world. Only in Ghana do we have over one million coaches. The coaches know what they are about. We have beaten the US before and I believe we can do it again”. Commenting on the performance of the players in the Wednesday’s encounter with Germany, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe commended the team for qualifying to the next stage. “We don’t have to criticize them in all they do. As soon as you start attacking them, they become confused”. Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe's comments infuriated, a Political cum Sports Analyst, Alhaji Bature who called in to contribute to the discussion. Alhaji Bature disagreed with Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe's suggestion that Ghanaians should leave the coach to perform his duties. He said in football, comments and criticisms from the media and the public make the team strong. “Any Ghanaian who supports the team can comment. That makes the team strong” said. Alhaji Bature said if Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe does not want Ghanaians to criticize the players and the coaches, then the President too must not be criticized when he goes wrong since the people voted for him. “If we refuse to criticize them, they would not know when they go wrong. The media and the public would criticize them, but not that they don’t like them, but they want them to do the right thing”, Alhaji Baturi concluded. In a related development, the Vice President of Ghana Football Association Mr. Fred Papoe who is also the Management Committee Chairman of the Black Stars has admitted Ghana feels a lot of challenge after being the only African country so far to have qualified to the knockout stages of the tournament. Speaking on Asempa FM’s sports morning show, he stated that expectations from Ghana and the whole of Africa is huge and they are aware of the pressure on the team now to impress and make Africa proud. Mr. Papoe however believes with experience, good organization, hard work, commitment and support, the Black stars can go far in the ongoing world cup in South Africa. According to him it has not been an easy task so far considering the teams they had to play before qualifying to the next stage. He said the knockout stages will be very difficult but believes if they maintain their level of focus they will achieve their target in the tournament He called on Ghanaians to continue to support the Black stars while allowing the coach and the playing body to do their job at this crucial moment in order to be fully concentrated on their upcoming game against USA on Saturday. Kwaku Antwi-Otoo/Benedict Owusu/Asempa Fm