Heads still high up despite Stars exit

Accra, June 27, GNA - Supporters of the Senior National team, Black Stars did not in the least, let the Stars exit from the World Cup at the hands of World Champions Brazil dampen their spirits as they came out to celebrate the team's gallantry performance in the tournament.

Though the celebration was not comparable to the Stars victories over Czech Republic and USA at the Group stages, response of the supporters indicated that they were really proud of the team's performance.

Most of the fans that thronged the streets were in the red, yellow, black and green colours of the National flag.

Whilst some sat on the bonnets of cars tooting their horns, the youth and women were seen in pockets running on the streets singing patriotic songs.
The scene was so fascinating that anyone who had no knowledge of the results thought the Stars had won the match.

Most of the fans expressing their sentiments said the Stars lost the match through the Slovakian referee Lubos Michael, for some strange decisions that caused the Stars defeat.
The Stars ended Africa's challenge in this year's World Cup tournament when they lost 3-0 to defending World Champions Brazil in Dortmund.

Takoradi

One person collapsed and later died at the Takoradi Hospital after Brazil scored the first goal against Ghana in the on-going FIFA World Cup Competition in Germany.
The deceased identified as Richard Amenawu alias Dela aged 32, was among friends watching the match at the Railway quarters near Goodnews FM radio station in Takoradi.
According to a family source, the deceased was found to be motionless soon after the goal was scored but upon critical examination, he was found to be staring blankly at the television set without any movements.
The source said the deceased was therefore, rushed to Takoradi Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Several football fans and friends of the deceased, on hearing of his death, gathered in groups at the hospital's premises to sympathise and catch a glimpse of the deceased.
In another development, few supporters of the Black Stars took to the streets and converged at Takoradi Market circle to jubilate.
They contended that defeat of Ghana by Brazil was not the end of football in the country.
Some of the fans that could not join the jubilation stood by and discussed the match and its effect on the people.

Sekondi

There was sadness on the faces of many people in Sekondi-Takoradi and the atmosphere was sombre following the 3-0 defeat of the Black Stars by Brazil in the World Cup tournament.
The streets and entertaining spots were virtually empty in contrast to the jubilation after the Stars defeat of Czech Republic and the United States of America (USA).
Few vehicles were on the roads tooting their horns in a lukewarm manner.
Tears run down the cheeks of Mr John Atta, a taxi, when Ghana News Agency (GNA) asked for his comments on the Stars' performance.
He could not hold back his tears but said the Stars had made Ghana and Africa proud by qualifying to be among the 16 countries in next stage of the tournament.
Mr George Fiano, a sports enthusiast, said the Stars should be praised rather than condemned for losing to Brazil.
He said the team should be encouraged to train harder and come out with flying colours in CAN 2008 and other international tournaments.

Cape Coast

Unlike like last Thursday, when residents within Cape Coast township; poured into the streets in a jubilant celebration following the Stars' victory over their United States counterparts, the streets of the township, remained practically quiet after the match against the Brazilians on Tuesday afternoon.
Some undaunted drivers, however, tooted their horns, while some residents phoned-in to discuss the match with panellists at Radio Central, the GBC FM station, congratulating the Stars for their performance.
The callers, who included women, did not mince words and accused the Slovakian referee of bias officiating and allowing the Brazilians to get away with three goals they described as "not clean goals".
Some said they were still determined to celebrate in spite of the outcome of the match.
During the match, workers at the Ministries block watching the match, could be heard, occasionally making sighs of anguish of "oohs and aahs", as some players of the national team, missed chances which could probably changed the outcome of the match.
More fans especially the fishermen the GNA interviewed, cursed the referee and blamed FIFA for selecting him to officiate the match but said they would still jubilate, because the Stars matched the Brazilian players boot to boot.
Mr Samuel Asante, a worker with the Ghana Water Company observed that all the three goals scored by the Brazilians were "offside" and should have been disallowed.
Mr Joseph Marfo a businessman and Mr Ekow Awotwe of Cape Coast Municipal Assembly and Mrs Memuna Habib, a front desk executive at SSNIT, praised the Stars for outplaying the Brazilians and also blamed the referee whose actions they said, demoralized the players.
Many disappointed fans were also seen in groups discussing the match and remained undaunted, because according to them, the Stars had "lost gallantly and the whole world would testify to it".
At Ntsin, a suburb of Cape Coast, fans had poured out into the streets amidst singing and playing of 'kolomashi' to celebrate.
Earlier, many residents in both Cape Coast and Elmina had portrayed their support for the Stars, by sporting all kinds of paraphernalia in the national colours.

Koforidua

The people of Koforidua went on celebrating mood despite the Black Stars 0-3 defeat at the hands of Brazil in their FIFA World Cup Soccer tournament in Germany on Tuesday.
Few minutes after the final whistle of the match, while some shop keepers in the central market area of Koforidua were discussing how unfair the referee of the match was to the Black Stars, two groups of Black Stars supporters appeared on the main street from different ends, the Soredae and Nsukwao Railway Station areas of the municipality.
Dressed in the national colours, they danced to music towards the central business district where many people joined them as they moved along the street, while others waved them on.
When the group from Soredae reached the 31st December Market area, a group of market women shouted in Akan, "celebrate, be happy for our players have done well, the referee cheated us."
Mr Prince Owusu, a student who was among the Nsukwao Train Station group, said for them they were celebrating the participation of the Black Stars in the tournament for the first time and for them a win or defeat was not their concern.