Sports
Ghanaians cannot forgive Suarez …10 years after handball incident
“For me, the Uruguay game is a game I think we won.” John Paintsil says, looking back on one of the most dramatic matches in men’s World Cup history: the 2010 quarter-final between Ghana and Uruguay in Johannesburg.
The reality, though, is Ghana did not win. A handball by Luis Suarez stopped a certain goal bound shot deep into injury time, in one of the most controversial and memorial moments of that tournament. Suarez was sent off – but Ghana missed the resulting spot kick and, ultimately, went out on penalties after extra time.
The pain for Paintsil and his teammate Hans Sarpei still lingers, ten years on. For many Ghanaians, Luis Suarez is perpetrator of one of the greatest crimes in the country’s sporting history.
“We were cheated,” Paintsil says.
“To clear the ball from the line with your hand – it’s supposed to be a goal.”
Living in Ghana as he now does, Paintsil says people still keep talking about the incident.
“I can’t forgive him because it was not an accident.” Sarpei adds.
“He knows what he has done. We were crying and you see someone who has cheated us is celebrating. How can I forgive him? Never. Never ever.”
On the July 2, 2010, Ghana had the football hopes of a whole continent on their shoulders.
South Africa was the host of Africa’s first World Cup – but Bafana Bafana was unable to make it past the group stage despite a valiant effort.
The other African teams had all been eliminated at the same point, leaving just the Black Stars in the competition.
“On the way to the game against Uruguay, I think everybody knew we could beat them – I think the whole world was supporting us.” left-back Sarpei says.
“The way we play the game: we’re playing on the front, we’re attacking in front. We try to enjoy the game. When you see Ghana, it’s like you’re listening to music because the ball is flowing.”
Ghana took the lead on the stroke of half-time via a 40-yard thunderbolt from former Portsmouth and Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari.
But Diego Forlan equalised with an exquisite free-kick and the two teams proceeded to play out in an engrossing contest – undoubtedly one of the best games of the competition – with both teams spurning chances throughout the game.
But it’s the final few minutes of the match that will forever live in World Cup infamy.
Ghana won a free-kick on the edge of the box, which was whipped in by Paintsil. In an ensuing goalmouth scramble, Suarez legitimately cleared a shot off the line from Captain Steven Appiah – before, seconds later, palming Dominic Adiyiah header away from goal.
“For me, I thought, ‘last man on the line, touch it with his hand, it’s supposed to be a goal’ – so I was already celebrating that we were through.” Paintsil recalls.
“Then I saw it was a penalty and I said, ‘What?’ I was shouting, ‘No, no, take the ball to the centre (circle), take the ball to the centre.’”
Suarez was sent off, leaving the field in tears, whilst the Ghanaian players began to celebrate.
“I think everybody from our side was thinking ‘yeah, we’re going to the semi-final’ because Asamoah Gyan had scored two penalty goals before and he made it look easy.” Sarpei says.
Gyan had been talismanic for Ghana in the tournament, leading the line and scoring the winner in the previous round against the United States – a game which had also gone to extra time.
“I was standing there and for me the ball was going into the net and we are going through to the next round.” Sarpei recalls.
“Then it hit the crossbar and my first thought was like, ‘is this real?’ Really? The ball is not into the net? What is happening? What is the problem?’
“And then it was difficult. At this moment, when he didn’t score and we had to go to the penalty shootout, the feeling was like, now it will be difficult to go to the next round.”
Suarez, who had stopped in the tunnel to watch the penalty, was pictured celebrating when Gyan missed – something that still rankles with Paintsil.
“After the penalty was missed you came out and then celebrated like you’re on top of the world by hurting people. At least be a professional, feel the pain. Just go to your dressing room and celebrate and then nobody will see it.”
Suarez was quoted in the press saying “the hand of God now belongs to me”, referencing Diego Maradona’s goal against England at the 1970 World Cup.
Ghana would go on to lose via a penalty shootout and with it went Africa’s golden opportunity to win a World Cup.
In the two tournaments since, no African team has come close to reaching the semi-final stage.
The match against Ghana is where Luis Suarez first gained international notoriety. Six months later, he joined Liverpool from Dutch giants Ajax.
Suarez took a gamble that helped his country get into its first semi-final since 1970, but they were beaten 3-2 by the Netherlands without him.
“One has to do what one has to do to make his country proud and that’s what he did to us,” says Paintsil – but asked if put in the same position as Suarez, whether he would handle the ball, he was adamant.
“There’s no African player that would have done that,” he argues.
“Africans are more athletic. Even when the ball is on the other line, I would have tried to kick the ball, kung-fu style.”
They say time heals old wounds. But 10 years on, the wound still appears to be open for Hans and John.
“It still pains. I’m still feeling it anytime I think about it,” says Pantsil.
“A lot of things would have changed in Ghanaian football, in our country and also in Africa. Maybe adding numbers to the next World Cup, the more an African team goes forward, the more we can add more countries to our package. For me I don’t know when I’m going to forget about this memory but now it’s part of me.” –BBC
ADUANA FC’s title-winning aspirations will be on the line tomorrow when they host Asante Kotoko in a Ghana Premier League Match day 27 game at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park in Dormaa.
Currently lying fifth on the log, seven points adrift of leaders Bibiani Gold Stars, Aduana believes the title is within their reach and they will give it their best shot, beginning with tomorrow’s game.
In their last five fixtures at Dormaa, Aduana FC has recorded a single win, drawing twice and losing the rest, a trend coach Aristică Cioabă is hoping to end tomorrow.
Both teams have met twice this season; the first-round tie ended 1-1, with Aduana Stars knocking out Kotoko, the defending champions of the MTN FA Cup, on penalties in their round of 16, to set the tone for an epic encounter tomorrow.
Kotoko go into this game spurred by the 3-0 victory over Nations FC last week, the first after six attempts in the Garden City derby, while Aduana FC fell 2-1 to Bechem United in the Bono derby last week.
Accra Hearts of Oak will make a return to the Accra Sports Stadium to face returnees Swedru All Blacks in a cagey encounter.
Phobian fans are up in arms with their team following recent home performances.
Hearts of Oak’s home record this season at the Accra Sports Stadium stands at five matches, of which they won one, drew three and lost one.
In all, the Phobians have drawn 12 games this season, seven at home with four home victories; a pattern that has left their faithful very livid.
The Phobians, who lie fourth on the log with 42 points, six behind leaders Bibiani Gold Stars, harbour a title-winning dream, and victory tomorrow will further make that dream clear.
Coach Kassim Ocansey Mingle of Swedru All Blacks believes he has what it takes to ‘kill’ that dream of the Phobians and is looking to unleash striker Rudolf Mensah on the Phobians to continue from where he left off last week against Hohoe United.
After overtaking over Medeama SC to go top of the GPL table, Gold Stars will trek to the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale to play Karela United tomorrow.
Karela United, who were on a five-game unbeaten run before being blown away in Berekum last week by Berekum Chelsea, are hoping to return to winning ways as they seek a top four finish.
Gold Stars coach Fritz Schmid, winner of the NASCO coach of the month for February, will be banking his hope on current leading goal king Samuel Atta Kumi to help his side solidify their stay at the top with yet another victory or a point on the road.
Coach Nurudeen Amadu of Karela United believes his side would react positively after their first defeat in the last six games last week by picking up the three points available.
After applying the brakes on former league leaders Medeama SC last week, Dreams FC will turn their attention to the Hohoe Stadium when they play as guests of Hohoe United, who are battling relegation.
The league’s second-top scorer with 10 goals, Augustine Okrah, will lead Bechem United to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena to test their strength against Samartex FC.
At the Wenchi Sports Complex, relegation-threatened Young Apostles will look to jump out of the zone with a win when they take on visiting Heart of Lions.
Berekum Chelsea will chase a second straight victory when they visit Nations FC at the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex in Abrankese.
The Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex in Tema New Town will today host the clash between eighth-placed Vision FC and visiting 12th-placed side Basake Holy Stars.
By Raymond Ackumey
The Laboma Beach Resort in Accra will be full of fireworks on April 5 when RBS Promotions and Box Office Promotions stage an international boxing event dubbed the ‘Resurrection Fight Night’ in Accra.
The event is set to feature top local and international boxers in what organisers described as a major platform to promote Ghana boxing on the global stage.
At the launch of the event last Friday, organisers outlined an exciting bill headlined by a 10-round national light heavyweight championship bout between Jonathan Tetteh and Abdul Aziz Quartey.
Other notable bouts included an eight-round lightweight contest between Alfred Lamptey and Maxwell Awuku, and another eight-round light heavyweight clash between Seth Gyimah of Ghana and Jamiu Animashaun of Nigeria.
Joseph Commey will face Bright Ayala in an eight-round lightweight contest, while Michael Abban takes on Benin’s Damien Zannou in a 10-round super flyweight fight.
Additional bouts will see Benjamin Lamptey battle Kamarudeen Boyefio in a six-round featherweight contest, while Clinton Nii Adjei is expected to feature in an eight-round cruiserweight contest against an opponent yet to be announced.
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RBS Promotions, Dr Albert Tetteh Botchway, said the initiative formed part of efforts to nurture young boxing talents and position Ghana as a hub for international boxing.
He said the organisers were committed to producing a world champion for Ghana by 2028, stressing that it did not matter which camp the boxer would emerge from.
Dr Botchway urged unity among stakeholders in the boxing fraternity, including promoters, managers and trainers, to ensure the success of the event and the growth of the sport.
The Acting Teshie Mantse and Atofotse, Nii Martey Dzata Obrempong I, also appealed to boxers to remain disciplined and focused, noting that the event was organised in their interest to help them achieve their career aspirations.
He emphasised that boxing was a serious sport that required commitment and support from all stakeholders, adding that the event was not just a local contest but an international spectacle.
The CEO of Box Office Promotions, Mr Alex Ntiamoah, in his address described the event as more than a fight night, stating that it was a platform that blended sport, culture and business.
He said the initiative would create opportunities for fighters, brands and investors, while positioning Ghana as a destination for world class sporting entertainment.
Mr Ntiamoah further announced a series of pre-fight activities, including public appearances, workouts and a final press conference ahead of the main event.
According to him, a public workout session is scheduled for April 2, with the official weigh-in set for April 4, all at the same venue.
By Stephanie Birikorang
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