Ghana soccer in outmoded - Nigerian commentator

Abuja, Nigeria, Oct. 15, GNA - Mr Emeka Odigbo, Nigeria's ace sports commentator said Ghana's soccer would never be resurrected if Ghanaian players do not deviate from pleasing the crowd with their deft touches and sleek midfield displays.

Expressing his disappointment at the poor result the Black Meteors achieved against Nigeria at the semi-final stage of the Eighth All Africa Games in Abuja, the commentator said the Ghanaian has been bereft of positive results due to the psychology of the players.

He said though the Ghanaian team had more possession than most of their opponents, all they did was to offer great entertainment value, which does not count in football success.

Mr Odigbo said Ghana should take a cue from Brazil who went into the doldrums from 1970 even though they still produced great players who entertained the fans.

The commentator who is on the payroll of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) said Brazil reorganised their game with some European aggression and African toughness, coupled with their traditional flair to come back to winning ways in 1994.

He said the greatest need of the team was a psychologist who will transform their objectives from entertainment to victory and not a coach, as the team plays very well without exhibiting the penchant to score goals.

Mr Odigbo said though football should have some entertainment value, the motive of a good team should be to score and win, hence the adoption of positive tactics to score goals as often as possible without resort to long spells of possession, which yield no results.