Sports News of Saturday, 19 June 2010

Source: Chronicle

Stars, Do It Again!

Ghana's Black Stars will continue their search for qualification to the next stage of the week old mundial when they take on the Aussies in the second Goup D game tomorrow, at Rustenburg.

Having made an indelible impression as the only African country to have won its first game, with Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroun drawing, with Algeria and Nigeria losing respectively, expectations from the African brothers are that they replicate their opening game performance to secure a 1/16 round slot.

Ghana would be keen at taking a giant stride towards the Round of 16 when the Black Stars cross paths with Australia's Socceroos on Saturday, June 19, at the World Cup.

The Aussies lost heavily against Germany in their opening game and revelations points to the fact that they will be armed to the teeth for an all attacking game against the Stars.

But Ghana's Serbian manager, Milovan Rajevac, has given the assurance ahead of the game that he has what it takes to neutralize the Aussies' arsenals.

"For us, this win is very important, so we need to prepare well and concentrate well.

Nothing is certain before the match or before the last whistle," Coach Milo told ghanafa.org after his team's open training session at the Mogwase Stadium on Wednesday.

In the Stars' midfield are Kevin Prince Boateng, Kwadjo Asamoah and Anthony Annan who have so far blended perfectly, making Michael Esien's absence not felt as expected.

And should the trio get first team shirts, the work for strikers Asamoah Gyan, Prince Tagoe or Dominic Adiyiah will be less daunting.

The absence of the Aussies' key performer, Tim Cahill, who is serving a three match ban, will make the defense's assignment to be executed by John Mensah, Hans Adu Sarpei, Isaac Vorsah and Samuel Inkoom less difficult, and would provide cover for goalkeeper Richard Kingson.