Black Stars Team - A Matter Of Grave Concern.

I write to add to the growing debate about the all important list for the possible Black Stars team for this June World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa. Until last Friday, the Ghanaian soccer public has waited patiently with bated breath as to who makes it into this important team. This is especially so because the awareness created by Ghana's 2006 campaign has raised the stakes so high that the entire soccer world is looking up to Ghana to lead Africa in a successful campaign. Additionally, it is also fair to say that judging from the performances of the six nations that will represent the host continent, Ghana appears to have shown the most significant improvement and bears the touch of hope with a World U-20 Cup title and a prestigious silver award at the recently Nations Cup in Angola; which also incidentally featured other World Cup teams such as Cameroun, Cote D' Ivoire, Algeria and Nigeria. Simply put, a lot is expected from the glorious Black Stars.

Therefore one cannot help but to express grave sentiments and condemnation at some of the names which made it into the provisional list released last Friday. And the fact that many of the opinions raised here and elsewhere seem to reflect the favoritism being peddled out by the soccer authorities validate the stupidity of the gamble whilst underscoring the intelligence of the Ghanaian soccer public.

What is so disgusting is the fact that this grave omission is being perpetuated under the watch of an expatriate coach whose main credentials for getting the nod for the job was to enforce discipline and to eliminate these acts of nepotism. Therefore as Ghanaians observe the blatant display of gross preferential treatment with this selection as the deputies look on sheepishly, one cannot help but to wonder how long has the coach been influenced by his employers and those around him. How much are the likes Edward Ansah and Kwesi Appiah involved in the selection process?

To advocate for the encouragement and inclusion of some of the youthful players to gradually transition into tomorrow's Black Stars must be seen as a clarion call. This is how Mohammed Polo (1972), Abedi Pele (1982), Isaac Asare (1992), to mention a few, blossomed into legendary. But such desire and action must not be confused with the pure and shameful act of favoritism we are witnessing now. How can goal-keeper trainer Edward Ansah justify the inclusion of Daniel Agyei over George Owu for instance? Daniel Agyei, a young promising goalie earned the first choice spot of the U-20 side partly because of the age restriction of that tournament. The World Cup has no such restriction and the stakes could not have been any higher, especially, when the current first choice goal-keeper, Richard Kingston, has been plagued with injuries and inactivity that he could hardly be said to be a third choice at Wigan.

On the other hand, can Kwesi Appiah attest to the reliability of Rahim Ayew, as a defender of some sort? To quote Shakespeare: "In the absence of none, the worst is the best". Rahim was unearthed in Angola as a make-shift player in a dire need to hold the left full back position. But what is the excuse when clear choices are so prevalent for this 'trouble spot' in the Black Stars defence. Bluntly put, the assertion that the coach is rewarding the influence of Abedi Pele who was quite instrumental during his (coach) selection process may not be far-fetched. Otherwise, what is the reason for this sheer nonsense.

On one hand we all advocating match fitness and consistency. Yet, here are players who are struggling to gain first team places in their respective teams, due to injuries or lack of activity. However, their places seem secured in the all important Black Stars line-up in a quid pro quo fashion which a typical Ghanaian will interpret it as follows: " You rob my back, I rob your back".

Appiah only featured for Bologna as 45th minute substitute today. Yet his supposedly good mentoring relationship to the playing body and prior service earned him a spot prior. If this a criteria used in selecting materials for the Black Stars then one may ask: "What about Polo and Abedi Pele, Ghana's true legends who never got the opportunity to showcase their talent in the world's soccer arena"?

Laryea Kingston has sparsely featured for Hearts this season or the Black Stars. However his 2006 suspension in Eqypt which caused him a world cup appearance earned him a call-up to appease him. The more one examines the list the more glaring the extent of this prima-facie is established. This brings into question the likes Eric Addo, Dede Ayew, to mention a few.

The World Cup is serious business like any top-flight tournament. Only the best material is expected at such gathering; where the technical bench can change the outcome of the game in minutes. The Ghana-Brazil 0-3 ('06 World Cup), Ghana-Iran 2-4 (June, 2007), Ghana-Japan 2-3 (Sept, 2009), Ghana-Germany 1-6 (April, 1993), Ghana-Bulgaria 0-10 ( 1968), are still fresh examples to remember.

It is without doubt that naming a 23-man for the Black Stars has never been easy, considering the nation's abundance of talents.

In 1978 for instance, the choice of Addae Kyenkyenhene over Adolf Armah raised hot debates. The Mohammed Odoom- Salifu Ansah scenario erupted fierce arguments. Infact Kwesi Appiah will well remember the controversy during the 1984 Nations Cup tournament in Cote d'Ivoire. Nevertheless, in all these instances, it was never a situation of rewarding mediocrity or playing bias with such crucial matter.

The Black Stars will emplane to South Africa carrying with them a whole nation's heart. Considering the fact that soccer has now become a religion in Ghana vis-a-vis the expectation of Ghana by the world following, any poor or adverse showing will undoubtedly call for a serious inquiry for which grave consequences will be demanded. It is therefore the contention of this writer that the authorities are genuinely aware of this and are ready to defend their action or in-actions, should this becomes the case. For now, this is only a provisional list; the monitoring process still on-going. Therefore one can only hope that other Ghana's materials who have proved their merit will not need any other influence other than their current form to be considered for justification.

By: Tasty Tee, USA