Brasil 2014

I bet everybody reading saw yesterday’s final between The Netherlands and Spain. It should have been Ghana’s moment. Not so a great game though. I think Uruguay-Germany (3rd place match) was better. I had my bet on Spain alright. For me, the best part of the day was the fireworks after the trophy was presented. It was awesome. South Africa pulled it off real good. I am impressed. I had no doubts about South Africa hosting a successful tournament. I wonder what the haters will say now. I heard a lot of people saying Ghana can never host the World Cup or it would have to be in the next millennium. It’s all just funny to me. I say we could be hosting the World Cup in 12, 16, 20 years from now. Funniest thing is the same people who that are the same people who didn’t believe Ghana could go past the group stage.

I wonder what I am going to do now that the World Cup is over. It kept me busy and was the only reason I got my TV set. I was actually thinking about giving it to the highest bidder but I got an idea of my twitter interaction. Maybe, it’s time to get a game console :)

Ok!!! I am looking forward to Brasil 2014 already. It is going to be a great tournament. There’s no way I am not going to be part of Brasil 2014. After brainstorming all night and morning, I have come up with 3 ways I can be part of it;

Option 1: I save 2 cedis a day. Since we have about 1500 days to go, I would probably have a lot by June 13, 2014.

Option 2: Join the political party that will win the 2012 elections and become a foot soldier. I will probably make the list of foot soldiers who will get a paid trip to Brasil :)

Option 3: I’m expecting 3D TV to be developed and available in Ghana in 2014. I could get a 3D TV and some Brazilian or Brazilian looking models to chill with. Cool, right?**

What do you think it’s my best option and if you’re looking forward to Brasil 2014, let me know how you plan to be part of it.

**Girls, you know that’s a joke, right?

Black Stars - Out But With Our Heads Held Up High!

Anthony Annan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Sule Ali Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah & Hans Adu Sarpei Celebrate the first goal.

It’s difficult writing this post. My thoughts are disorganised right now and I don’t even know how and where to start from. Seeing the Black Stars kicked out of the World Cup yesterday seemed like a dream and I wish it was one. You can’t even fathom how sad I am but it’s all good. I had no doubts we were going to the finals and bringing the trophy home.

Nonetheless, I am very proud of the Black Stars! They carried the hope of a billion Africans having been the only African team to exit from the group stages and the round of 16. I don’t blame anyone for our loss. I have heard and read some really sad comments about the loss. Most people are blaming Asamoah Gyan for failing to convert the 120th minute penalty, others blame John Painstil for fouling Diego Forlan and Richard Kingson failing to keep the free kick out. Others blame John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah for not converting their penalty kicks. I even heard some Ghanaians blaming the loss on Coach Milovan Rejavic’s tactics. I think it’s actually unfair of fans to blame anyone being it the coach, Asamoah Gyan, John Mensah, John Painstil, Richard Kingson, Dominic Adiyiah or the entire team for the defeat. I think we were just unlucky and this is football. 

Ghana played one of the best football at the mundial and we are taking only the positives from this World Cup. Like the mythical phoenix, we will rise as a stronger football nation. We have had a pretty good year having been the first African team to qualify for the World Cup, Winning the U20 World Cup, the first for an African team and going all the way to the finals of the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 18years without most of our ‘key players’. Let’s not forget the Black Princesses qualifying for the U20 Women’s World Cup.

I hate it when people say “it’s just a game”. Not only does it annoy me but it shows how little they know about football and the World Cup. I know it’s going to take quite some time for some of us to get over the loss but we will. We love you Black Stars!!!! You have indeed made Ghana and the entire African continent proud. You will be welcomed as the heroes you are. Asamoah Gyan, keep your head up! John, if you had scored, they’d have called it a classic penalty kick. Adiyiah, you’re a hero. Coach Milovan, you’ve brought a lot of respect to the Black Stars!

Andre Ayew consoles Asamoah Gyan

The players are already in high spirits. I just saw this picture and a couple others on the FIFA website from their visit to Nelson Mandela. I bet Nelson Mandela had a lot of inspiring words for our ‘lads’.

Sule Ali Muntari & Nelson Mandela            source: FIFA.com

This post has been therapeutic. I just realised at this point that I feel much better now than when I started writing. I will be doing a couple of posts on the Black Stars.

GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA!!!

Let’s Go Black Stars!!!

Tomorrow is the big day! Tomorrow, Ghana will show the world that we are ready to take the World Cup. 

I just watched Nigeria lose to Argentina. I will say that’s the best match I have seen yet. Metro TV also showed a Black Stars training session and today’s press conference. I believe Ghana is ready. I know a lot of people don’t believe Ghana has the quality and character to win the World Cup. Well, I know a lot of people will call, tweet and text me after the World Cup just to say; Kwabena, you’re right! Ghana is a tournament team and if we put our mind to it, nothing is impossible for us.

In the past, it was easier predicting who will make the starting line-up. It isn’t that easy anymore. Coach Milovan has a lot of quality players to choose from. I didn’t see the last two friendly games but I think I have an idea of the probable line-up. With all 23 players haven been declared fit this is what I think tomorrow’s line-up will look like;

Richard Kingston; John Painstil, Hans Adu Sarpei, Isaac Vorsah, John Mensah; Kevin Prince Boateng, Anthony Annan, Stephen Appiah, Kwadwo Asamoah, Sule Muntari; Asamoah Gyan (4-4-2)

or

Richard Kingston; Samuel Inkoom, Hans Adu Sarpei, Isaac Vorsah, John Mensah; Kevin Prince Boateng, Anthony Annan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Sule Muntari; Prince Tagoe, Asamoah Gyan (4-5-1)

Ghana v. Latvia                                                                           Credit: Cleopatra Nsiah Nketiah

If Richard Kingson keeps his composure, we should be clean sheet. Our defence is resolute. I have no doubts about our defence. With the 1.96m Isaac Vorsah , John Mensah, John Painstil and Hans Adu Sarpei at the back I have no fear at all. There is also Samuel Inkoom, Lee Addy, Rahim Ayew and Jonathan Mensah.

Ghana’s strength is in the midfield. Ghana has one of the finest midfields even without Michael Essien who won’t be in this world cup. Kevin Prince Boateng can fill the midfield void created by the absence of Michael Essien. I caught a few excepts of the game with Latvia and he was impressive in the midfiled. I think he is a better option than Derek Boateng. I expect Stephen Appiah to start but don’t expect him to play the full 90 minutes. Another player to watch tomorrow is Kwadwo Asamoah. He is the talk of the team after an impressive African Cup of Nations and season with Udinese. Asamoah can hold and distribute the ball and I expect him to be right behind the strikers. 

I would have loved to see Asamoah Gyan partner Dominic Adiyiah up front but it looks like Coach Rajevac prefers an Amoah or Tagoe partnership with Gyan or start with one striker. I expect Quincy Owusu-Abeyie & Dominic Adiyiah to be brought on as power subs. Quincy has the speed just like Haminu Draman and has can change the pace of a game.

Ahhhhhhh! The coach has lot of quality players to choose from. I put a name down and I feel like crossing it out. I guess he is having a tougher time.

I just can’t wait for 14:00GMT tomorrow. Ghana will have the advantage of a 12th and 13th player; number 12 will be the fans with their vuvuzelas and number 13 will be the presence of President John Evans Atta Mills at the stadium tomorrow. Let’s show the world we are ready. Let’s Go Black Stars!!!

God Bless Our Homeland Ghana!

The Black Stars: Who Will Be At South Africa 2010?

In 90 days, the 2010 FIFA World Cup will kick off in South Africa. Teams are vigorously planning and hoping they don’t have any major setbacks. 

This World Cup has been dubbed; Africa’s World Cup, with many predicting an African team in the finals at least. Others like me have gone far to predict that an African country will be taking the trophy this time around. I tip my homeland Ghana. La Cote D’Ivoire is another country most people tip to carry the trophy again.

We just came back from the 26th African Cup of Nations in Angola 2010 and it has been preparation for the African countries as well as highlighting our weakness. Already, La Cote D’Ivoire and Nigeria are in search of new coaches. The surprise of the tournament was Ghana which went into the tournament without six of it’s regular starters and had to field a young team made up mostly of members of the Under 20 team which won the African and World Cups in 2009. The team went all the way to the finals and picked up the silver medal after losing by a lone goal to Egypt.

This post is a follow up to Mighty African’s My 23 man Black Stars sqaud for the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

After watching the final game of the African Cup & the embarrassing defeat to Bosnia & Herzegovina again, I think Coach Milovan Rajevac of Ghana will be in a dilemma selecting his 23-man squad for the World Cup. Coach Rajevac has already said that the world cup will require more experienced players. I have been thinking about the possible 23 and I have come up with my own 23. Maybe it will be Coach Milovan’s 23 for South Africa. After all there are 23 million coaches in Ghana and I am one!

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson, Daniel Adjei, Philemon MaCarthy

Kingson despite his poor performance at the African Cup is undobtedly our best option in goal. U20 champion, Daniel Adjei deserves the no. 2 goalkeeper position despite his poor showing during the Ghana-Bosnia & Herzegonia game. He prove his worth at the U20 African & World Cups last year. 

Defenders: Eric Addo, John Mensah, John Painstil, Samuel Inkoom, Isaac Vorsah, Hans Adu Sarpei, Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu, Ibrahim Ayew

I think the Ghana has a solid defense. There are a lot of players to choose from. I’m happy Hans Adu Sarpei is back in the team. I just didn’t understand why he was dropped for Harisson Afful in the past. He was impressive in the last world cup and he is still going strong. The addition of Isaac Vorsah has made our defense more resolute. The Hoffenhiem defender with his imposing figure is just who we need to flush out our opponents’ strikers.

Midfielders: Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah, Sule Ali Muntari, Laryea Kingston, Kwadwo Asamoah, Anthony Annan, Kevin Prince Boateng, Andre Dede Ayew

Ghana has the best midfield in Africa and one of the best in the world. This is where I think the coach will ponder a lot. I would have prefered Stephen Appiah not be in the squad but as it stands now, if Appiah is fit, he will be in the World Cup. Yesterday, I heard a radio ad on Dinpa 91.3FM about a tour agency organising flights to South Africa to support the Black Stars. If you have heard ads like that, they mostly involve mentioning some players names. I heard; ‘Black Stars nie, Muntari nie, Essien nie, Kwadwo Asamoah nie, 2010 nie’. I said to myself; Kwadwo Asamoah has arrived! Kwadwo is just phenomenal! Kwadwo Asamoah can really hold on to the ball and that’s what we need. The no. 10 jersey is well deserved. Should I talk about Essien and Muntari? They’re household names and we all know their worth. I am also excited Kevin Prince Boateng will be joining us. His place is guaranteed and he will prove his worth. I have seen him play for Tottenham in the past and now Portsmouth and the boy is good. 

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan, Mathew Amoah, Dominic Adiyiah, Haminu Draman

This is where we really got a problem. I sometimes think we should play some of our midfielders as strikers. I would have prefered if we could pair Adiyiah & Asamoah Gyan in a one of our friendlies. I have so much confidence in Adiyiah and I would want to see him start more often for Ghana. I heard someone saying; ‘Are you crazy for putting Haminu in the strikers list?’ I’m not crazy. I have a feeling just like the African Cup list, Haminu will be named as a striker (He won’t play as a striker). Haminu is not a 90 minutes player. He has the speed to change a game just like Quincy. Haminu came on for Ghana against Nigeria at the 2008 African Cup & changed the game, he did the same in the place match against Cote D’Ivoire. Draman has a world cup goal to his credit and I think Coach Rajevac will make room for him in his squad.

Possible Gatecrashers: Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Derek Boateng, Opoku-Agyemang, David Addy, Lee Addy, Adam Larsen Kwarasey

I won’t be surprised to see any of these players steal a spot in the squad too. Quincy has been going hard for Portsmouth, David was impressive against Bosnia & Herzegovina, Opoku-Agyemang might just replace Haminu if he is fit then.

Now to My Starting XI:

Kingson, Painstil, Mensah, Vorsah, Sarpei, Kevin Prince Boateng, Essien, Kwadwo Asamoah, Muntari, Adiyiah, Gyan

Let’s Go 2010, Let’s Go Black Stars!!!