People of the Union: Anthony Baffoe (Ghana)

People of the Union puts the spotlight on individuals across FIFPRO’s member associations who are dedicated to improving the wellbeing of professional footballers in their country.

Anthony Baffoe is the General Secretary and Founder of Ghanaian player union PFAG. The former Ghana international talks about his football career, his passion for the union and his daily motivation.

FIFPRO: Tell us about yourself: what is your current role and what is your background?

I was born in Germany, 1965, and I'm a son of a diplomat, a Ghanaian ambassador. I played 15 years of professional football in Germany, France, Asia and South America. And I was the first to be born in the diaspora to play for Ghana.

When I grew up, I was the only black player in a European/German/white team. That gave me a lot of resilience and helped shape my character. I am German when it comes to my work ethics. Punctuality is very important for me. And I'm totally African when it comes to my heart and soul. I'm also privileged to speak a few languages, which helped me a lot with my life after football.

I have degrees in sports business management and event management, and I did a lot of governance and leadership courses. I've been involved with CAF and FIFA, organising World Cups, Club World Cups and African Cup of Nations. I was the Deputy General Secretary of CAF for four years, until I returned to the union that I had founded in 2009. It’s my baby, but you need a lot of helping hands to make the baby grow. I'm very proud that former players like Kwame Ayew, Samuel Kuffour (our president), Augustine Ahinful, Stephen Appiah and Ibrahim Tanko helped us, as well as my right-hand man Solomon Torson and Yussif Chibsah, our current head of player relations. That’s what I wanted: the PFAG has to be player driven.

What do you most enjoy about the work you do at the union?

That it is player driven. I enjoy having contact with all the generations, and you can only have that when you're present when they're playing internationally. This is how you stay close to the current generation of Mohammed Kudus and Ernest Nuamah.

I enjoy representing players, fighting for players, especially when people think it will not work. When I started this, nobody really believed in this, even players. But with help from FIFPRO, more specifically Stephane Burchkhalter and Stephane Saint Raymond in the beginning, we made it work. We made players feel that there is an organisation for them, with a good staff and a beautiful office that is their home.

What issue affecting players welfare are you most passionate about?

Let me put it in this way: I'm passionate about it, but disappointed that up to now, we haven't succeeded with the implementation of the standard contract and the minimum salary wages. We are still negotiating with the Ghanaian Football Association. They informed us that their congress needs to accept it.

Together with my colleagues at PFAG I want to leave a legacy. It's a right of a player to have a standard contract that stipulates what it takes to be a professional and how they need to be respected as a worker. It's a player's security. You have to know, in Africa, a player doesn't take care only of his family, wife and kids, they are often looking after extended families. A standard contract and a minimum wage allow them to better plan for the future.

Can you share one of your proudest moments working as a union representative?

Becoming a full member of FIFPRO. That showed that our work was developing. Another proud moment was when we opened our new state-of-the-art office in Accra in 2017. We had the Division Africa congress with former Secretary General Theo van Seggelen, former FIFPRO Africa Secretary General Stephane Burchkalter, the FA President and our Minister of Sports in attendance.

Another proud moment was winning the Ashanti Gold-Inter Allies case. People asked why we should defend these players, as they were banned for match-fixing. I said: “You are innocent until proven guilty”. It is a very simple sentence, yet very significant. We had to do everything as a union to reduce the suspension. With the support of FIFPRO's Legal Department we got this vital win.

If you could change something in football, what would it be?

I would love to have more diversity in management of European clubs. Diversity, from different backgrounds, not only black coaches, managers or directors, but also Asian. I would also love to see more players taking over affairs which is a gradual process Kalusha Bwalya was one of the first when he became the president of the Zambian FA. Federation councils could benefit from incorporating a more player-focused approach to ensure their needs and perspectives are well represented.

What is your favourite football memory to date?

Becoming a professional footballer. I was almost 18 and went out with my two best friends, including my older brother. They were DJs, and when we left the club at night, we picked up the newspaper. It had this big headline: “Anthony Baffoe signs professional contract with FC Koln”. That was news for me too. We had talks before, but I hadn't signed the contract yet, and I had not told my brother and friend about it. We found out by the headline.

Another moment was my first match for Ghana on 13 January 1991. We won 4-0 against Benin and five minutes before the final whistle the coach took me of to get an ovation from the fans.

Who is your favourite football player ever and why?

I adore Abedi Pele Ayew. We shared a room when we were at the AFCON 1992 in Senegal. He was an amazing, world class player, technically and tactically very sound. He made the difference in our team, and in the whole tournament. He was voted Best African Player three times and happens to have three kids who play good football (Ghana internationals Ibrahim, Andre and Jordan).

We are brothers to this day. He's also one of the people I go to when I'm not sure about certain things. He will give me his wisdom.