Sports
Otto Addo the hero as Stars dazzle
The performance of the Black Stars of Ghana in their last two games has reinforced a job hazard associated with coaching.
Although, a game of football always comes with three outcomes, a coach must go to his knees in prayer, asking the Almighty God to constantly deliver him wins in every match.
It means the fans, who are also well aware that their demands for wins weeks in and out is not possible, would, however, not accept the other outcomes of either sharing the spoils or be defeated.
Those prayers to win every time also look impossible because there may be thousands, if not millions, of coaches on their knees almost at the same time, asking the Almighty for similar favours.
Coach Otto Addo may be aware of this interesting scenario but recent development would remind him of that strong desire of the fans to win at all cost, and the need to work hard to that realisation.
Having played for the Black Stars as one of the privileged players to represent Ghana at her maiden FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2026, his appointment as the Black Stars coach was hailed by many.
He did not practice his trade in Ghana like the many others but as a good player with Borussia Dortmund, he justified his selection into the Black Stars. He later became a coach of the German club.
Therefore, in the quest to domesticate the technical department of the Black Stars, he was appointed with high hopes, perhaps due to the experience gained in his role as an Assistant Coach at Dortmund.
Addo came at a very crucial moment. It was indeed decisive because Ghana was about to face Nigeria in a two-legged World Cup qualifying play-off to Qatar.
Impressively, he managed to go past the Nigerians to snatch the World Cup ticket for Ghana.
Afterwards, Otto Addo became as instant hero. Expectations skyrocketed in anticipation of a good World Cup showing. That dream was blown up in the air following some of the worst performances from the Black Stars at the global soccer Mundial. At that point, he became a villain.
But Ghana strangely kept faith with him. After a period of negotiations, Addo assumed the reins of the Stars technical bench but once again failed woefully; missing out from the 2026 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In the end, he set an unwanted record of breaking a 20-year continuous participation at the African football festival.
In many quarters, that was unforgivable and would have been dragged to Golgotha Gethsemane for crucifixion.
Few months down the line, Coach Otto Addo and his team, which came under huge criticism for their underperformances, have been hailed for the improvement and hunger shown to the USA, Canada, and Mexico World Cup qualifiers.
From the lower ranks of the Group I table, the Black Stars currently lead the group with three points. They have 15 points and followed by Comoros with 12 with four matches to go.
That was made possible by scintillating displays against the group’s whipping boys, Chad, who conceded five in Accra and Madagascar who conceded three.
The transition from a team described as ‘one-goal project’ for winning matches with a goal margins to one that scores freely and defends with gusto seems magical and has gotten fans applauding.
That should tell Otto Addo that Ghanaians are not against him. All they care about are the deliverables – win, win, win and qualify for the World Cup.
And in doing so, he must ensure the right caliber of players are invited to ensure that the job is done.
His caution against complacency is quite instructive and every worker around the team must know. The enthusiasm is high now; the fans showed the love in the last two matches, so what is left now is for Otto Addo and his charges to deliver another World Cup. Failure to do that could see a return to ‘factory settings.’
By Andrew Nortey
The battle for supremacy in the Ghana Premier League will continue this weekend with both Medeama SC and Bibiani Gold Stars continuing their close battle for the title.
Defending champions, Bibiani Gold Stars, are breathing down heavily on the neck of the leaders Medeama SC as they aim to hunt down the Premier League leaders from the top.
Fresh from their 2-1 home victory over in-form Hearts of Oak, which saw them cut the lead at the top to just one, Gold Stars will travel to the Bono Region, precisely the Wenchi Sports Complex, to test their mettle against relegation candidate, Young Apostles.
Gold Stars are on a four-game winning streak, having blown apart Swedru All Blacks, Basake Holy Stars, Heart of Lions and Hearts of Oak, and are gunning to add Apostles to their list of casualties tomorrow.
Apostles, the last but one team on the log, have vowed to escape the drop, indicating their resolve to wrest a point or more in the game.
Medeama SC returns to their fortress, the TnA Stadium, to host Hohoe United in a tricky tie.
Head coach of Medeama SC, Tanko Ibrahim, believes they are still on course to win the title despite the threat from Gold Stars.
Vision FC will look to continue their strong home form when they welcome relegation-threatened Berekum Chelsea to the Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex in Tema New Town today with the Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi, also hosting the Samartex FC versus Dreams FC clash today.
In other games, the University of Ghana Stadium will play host to the Hearts of Oak versus Basake Holy Stars game; Asante Kotoko will trek to the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale to face Karela United FC; Aduana FC will seek to add to the woes of bottom club, Eleven Wonders, at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park with Heart of Lions seeking a return to winning ways when they host Swedru All Blacks at the Kpando Stadium.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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The battle for supremacy in the Ghana Premier League will continue this weekend with both Medeama SC and Bibiani Gold Stars maintaining their close contest for the title.
Defending champions, Bibiani Gold Stars, are breathing down heavily on the leaders Medeama SC as they aim to hunt down the Premier League leaders from the top.
Fresh from their 2-1 home victory over in-form Hearts of Oak, which saw them cut the lead at the top to just one point, Gold Stars will travel to the Bono Region, precisely the Wenchi Sports Complex, to test their mettle against relegation candidates, Young Apostles.
Gold Stars are on a four-game winning streak, having defeated Swedru All Blacks, Basake Holy Stars, Heart of Lions, and Hearts of Oak. They are gunning to add Apostles to their list of casualties tomorrow.
Apostles, the second-last team on the log, have vowed to escape the drop, indicating their resolve to wrest a point or more in the game.
Medeama SC returns to their fortress, the TnA Stadium, to host Hohoe United in what promises to be a tricky tie. Head coach Tanko Ibrahim believes they are still on course to win the title despite the threat from Gold Stars.
Other Premier League Fixtures:
- Vision FC will look to continue their strong home form when they welcome relegation-threatened Berekum Chelsea to the Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex in Tema New Town.
- The Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi will host the Samartex FC vs Dreams FC clash.
- University of Ghana Stadium will play host to Hearts of Oak vs Basake Holy Stars.
- Asante Kotoko will trek to the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale to face Karela United FC.
- Aduana FC will seek to add to the woes of bottom club Eleven Wonders at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park.
- Heart of Lions will aim for a return to winning ways when they host Swedru All Blacks at the Kpando Stadium.
- By Raymond Ackumey
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