Sports
Winning back a nation’s confidence
BARELY a few days after taking over the reins of power in 2019, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) waged a vigorous campaign to ignite support for the Black Stars ahead of the start of the Cameroon 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The passion-igniting campaign was aimed at galvanizing unflinching support for the Stars and pluck back some love for the team. Players, coaches and executives of the GFA took centre stage in the #BringBackTheLove campaign – the FA having partnered some media outfits to robustly push the agenda.
This was done ahead of Ghana’s game against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in their Nations Cup qualifying opener at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Thursday November 14, 2019, and Sao Tome, four days later.
In all sincerity, the campaign was in order as affection for the Stars had slumped considerably, to the extent that sometimes when they were in action right here in Ghana, only a few were bothered.
Heartily, it went well – seemingly – as the Stars dealt with both Bafana and the Sao Tome lads to qualify for Cameroon 2021. South Africa stunningly failed to make it.
Truth is, the players’ own distressing attitude for the lust for money and concomitant lethargic performance, have viciously combined to portray a pathetic portrait of unpatriotism. It used to be a perception. Now, it is no more – supposedly.
The Brazil 2014 World Cup tournament, where the Black Stars were humiliatingly flushed out in the opening round, may have happened five years ago. Sadly, the ugly happenings of that ill-fated campaign appeared to be freshly etched on the minds of Ghanaians.
The money-kissing-orgy, holding of the nation to ransom, and the crass show of indiscipline, have all snowballed into a near-hate for the Stars.
Recently, too, the players have not shown enough passion in their Group G Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers – and now appear to be losing the ‘small’ gains of love again.
It is the reason Chief Scribe of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Tsum, is calling on the players to churn out a positive reaction with victories in the back-to-back qualifiers in order to win back the confidence of the public.
“Our expectation is that the team will give us a positive reaction by winning the two games against the Warriors. We expect the players to show hunger and desire on the field of play to restore public confidence,” he told the Times Sports on Tuesday.
Indeed, Ghanaians expect the players to demonstrate great derring-do on the field of play, be prepared to die out of exhaustion rather than give up, and must have a winning mentality always embossed on their minds as they go about their businesses. For now, they have not exhibited that kind of doughty character enough; which is why the players have come under an amperage of criticism over time.
They ought to play like champions and leave inspiringly fresh memories on the pitch. Champions are champions, not because they are necessarily the most physically able or the most physically talented side. Champions are champions because they honour their commitment. When they set out to do something they do it, without fail, without trepidation, without question – with certainty. That is why they are champions.
Unlike Ghana who have clinched the continental Holy Grail four times, Senegal are yet to lay hands on one. However, they play like champions whenever the players have the opportunity to don their national jersey.
Indeed, our players must put commitment at the forefront of their game. A committed player, as they say, has the inner voice of a champion – as they keep working, keep moving, keep playing and staying focused.
Where the Black Stars are today, they do not really want players who are not committed to the task.
As a matter of fact, Ghana needs whole-heartedly committed band of players now more than anything else. Even if they are not as good as world-class stars, the fans will love to see the players give their all for second balls.
However, the fans will be left to feel a serious disconnection with the players – if nothing will suggest that they do not want to be there. This may be enough reason to see the cynosure of all eyes feed on the Stars as they breathe some inspiration into their World Cup campaign today at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium against bottom-placed Zimbabwe’s Warriors.
South Africa leads the group on four points – one better than Ghana and Ethiopia, after two rounds of games. For Ghanaians, their prayer is that the table must turn in their favour after the double-header on October 12.
Attention will be at the Golden City Park in Berekum tomorrow as Hearts of Oak lock horns with Berekum Chelsea FC in a Ghana Premier League Matchday 6 game that promises an electrifying atmosphere.
Lying sixth on the league table with two wins and three draws, the Phobians visit a ground that has been favourable to them in recent times. In their last three visits to the Golden City Park, Hearts have amassed seven out of nine points, putting them in strong contention to win.
Head Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani says, “The team is making progress in its tactical identity despite the lack of goals, and this is something we are working on ahead of this game.”
Hearts will come face-to-face with former coach Samuel Boadu, whose side lies a distant 13th on the league table with a win and a draw from four games. Coach Boadu is yet to celebrate a victory over the Phobians since joining the Berekum lads and would hope this fixture marks a turnaround.
Ninth-placed Vision FC would trek to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem to play Bechem United, while new boys Hohoe United host Aduana FC at the Hohoe Sports Stadium.
Returnees Swedru All Blacks will welcome Basake Holy Stars to the Swedru Sports Stadium, with defending league champions Bibiani Gold Stars staying put at their backyard, the Dun’s Park, to welcome second-placed Heart of Lions FC on Monday.
Today at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa, Medeama SC will clash with Samartex FC in a Western derby. Other games scheduled for today would see Eleven Wonders FC host Karela United at the Swedru Sports Stadium, while Dreams FC face Nations FC at the Tuba Astro Turf.
By Raymond Ackumey
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Ghana coach Otto Addo may not command the kind of fear and respect like Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique and others in the modern game, but in his small corner, he is gradually climbing the ladder to greatness in Ghana, Africa and the world at large.
The aforementioned coaches attained greatness with club sides and, therefore, open an argument over whether one is not comparing apples to oranges. But no matter how one looks at it, they are all coaches harbouring similar ambitions to attain greatness in their fields.
Otto Addo is one of the young and upcoming coaches holding a lot of promise and was getting experience with his association with Borussia Dortmund in Germany until his path was directed by a Ghana call.
Although he was born in Germany, Otto Addo’s association with Ghana football dates back to 1999, spanning a period of about seven years; commencing with a 5–0 rout of Eritrea on February 28. He gained international prominence when he joined the squad for the 2000 African Cup of Nations. He featured as a midfielder in the team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
But like it’s often said, a prophet is not recognised in his own home and his efforts partially went unnoticed. He’ll go into the annals as one of the Black Stars coaches to have been fairly or otherwise criticised not just by ‘football people’ but fans who doubted him.
His sack has been discussed at various platforms by people whose knowledge and tactical acumen about the game remains questionable. Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, at one point openly stated his doubts over Otto Addo’s ability to actually deliver.
No coach would feel secured in such turbulent times, but coach Otto Addo kept his calm and composure. On the corridors of his employers, however, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku, openly rallied support for him, though a few ‘doubting Thomases’ still questioned his credentials.
That painted a picture of a people that forget easily and are quick to crucify. In a brief moment of adversity, Ghanaians forgot how Otto Addo was brought in to pluck qualification for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup from the jaws of the Super Eagles of Nigeria with a solitary goal over two legs.
The upshot of that feat was not one any Nigerian would want to remember. The scenes after the match were awfully chaotic, as fans vented their anger on facilities at the stadium. Back in Ghana, it was partying all night and day.
Otto Addo was labeled the football magician. He achieved something no Ghanaian coach had ever accomplished; a feat which Ghana with her all-time best teams could not attain. That was the climax to which Otto Addo took Ghana football, generating calls to start believing in the Ghanaian coach.
Following that to the World Cup proper was another story altogether. It was, or may have been, our poorest show at any of the four World Cup appearances. And just as it was stipulated in his contract, he bowed out after the Qatar World Cup to mind his Borussia Dortmund business with peace.
But as fate would have it, nature found a way to renew his romance with Ghana football after an unconvincing start to the America, Canada and Mexico dream World Cup under special advisor turned coach, Chris Hughton.
Ghana started the qualifiers on a winning note but not a convincing performance. It was saved by an Inaki Williams goal scored on the sixth minute of additional time against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The Black Stars then slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the Stade de Moroni to Comoros to heighten calls for a new technical direction.
Then stepped in Otto Addo when Ghana occupied the fourth position in Group I with three points but with the countries in the group evenly matched.
By Andrew Nortey
