Soccer News of Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Source: prince osei -bonsu ,bronx -new york.

The Day Angola Stood Still

             It is always risky to write the obituary of the host country in any competition but Ghana made sure this logic was defied. Just under twenty minutes of the game, the enthusiasm of the vociferous Angolan supporters became jaded and after the final whistle, the capital Luanda became a sleepy city.                     The Angolans were willing to go any lenght in intimidating the Ghanaian supporters and that was the last page of tactics they had in their play books. As a result of this sparks started flying days before the kick off. The Ghanaian players we're unfaxed about these threats and hubris.                        They did hang together and that won them the match. Yes good behavior is always rewarded and bad behavior always punished. The Almighty Lord rewarded Ghanaians." Never say die" should be the motto of the Black Stars.                 Nana Adu Gyamfi of  Chicago sounded  that  after the defeat by Ivory Coast the chances of these Ghanaian young players to qualify to the next stage was the subject among the cynics. The defeat sent a flare to all Ghanaians to know the enormity of the problem our team was having. Confidence in the team remained in short supply in the country. "

                 Even the most ardent supporters would have been stretching the bounds of self -delusion if they thought that the team could have won a match, to the technical team and the players of Black Stars i say ,good work done boys, fight to the last whistle."

                 The same people who decried the team as a weak and not a winsome side are now squeezing out the compliment that they have done well for kicking out the host country. The coach and the technical team were always preaching patience and telling Ghanaians to "keep their powder dry" as they had confidence in the boys.

       With determination,dedication and vision  Black Stars from Ghana deified all the intimidation by the Angola host Nation of the on-going African Cup of Nation 2010 ,when they employed all the dirty tricks to make sure they beat the Ghanaians to the next  stage of the tournament ,but the Black Stars put all those ill plans behind them and did what they know best in soccer by beating the Black Antelopes 1 -0 at the 11 November Sports Stadium before their President  His Excellency Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

        Before this epic quarter finals, Ghana’s young mid-field dynamo Dede Ayew indicated that such unguided behaviors do not have a place in the modern day soccer and they the players are equally up to the task, since they are all professionals and they were anticipating that, such negative things will occur and they also have in mind the nasty incident that took place before the commencement of the tournament.

       Most of Ghanaians wrote off the Stars ,when the team was hit by injuries by the likes of Stephen Appiah, Micheal Essien,John Mensah, Antony Annan, John Painstil, Laryer Kingston, and the rod of discipline did not spare Sulley Muntari.

            No one gave the young boys and a quite few of some old hands a dog chance that, they will be at the semi finals and things got worse when the Ivorian led by one of their deadly striker in the world Didier Drogba out pace them and beat them 3 - 1.

        When the information came out that

            Mr Seth Osei- Bonsu of Denver  - Colorado  from day one, when the selection of the 23 men to defend the National colors was released he hoped that the young guys will live up to expectation if the technical team injects into them some confidence, moral support, the free hands of the coach to do his own selection and enough motivation.

       He does not see  why the crop of the Under 20 players selected will not live up to expectation and after all, this tournament will also give the Coach Milovan Rajevic and his technical team a chance to assess them well before the World Cup.             The partisan crowd and the presence of the Angolan President could not intimidate the stars and Asamoah Gyan ensured that they laughed at the wrong side of their mouths were the words from Nana Ama Adomah of Minnesota.          Mr Kwaku Danso of Delawareprays that Ghanaians do not bring in politics, since it is NPP NDC,CPP or PNC it is Ghana’s name that is being carried out there and we should do away with any thing that will be divisive politically.

           Miss Joyce Ansah of Bronx - New York also on her part noted that, she is very happy that the crop of the players selected from the U-20 have not let the Nation down ,but rather prove all the critics wrong that big names do not play soccer or in the face of Sports at this modern World.

        She also pleaded with Ghanaians to do away with bad utterances that will be discussed or said at the FM'S/Radio Stations, because most at times people say things in the air without facts and by so doing it kills the zeal and enthusiasm for one to die a bit for his/her nation

           Before the CAN 2010, Coach Milovan Rajevic had been painted black and all sort of names were attributed to him that, he is not a good coach because some of the players were left out in his selection and some were calling for his head, but according his post match interview, he emphasized that he has mapped out a strategy and he did watch the tape about the Angolans.

        Mohammed Dauda Fataio of Texas a former defender of Afenya F/C comments that  games are won from a good technical bench especially soccer. If the coach reads his opponents very well and they rehears at the training grounds or do a black board work , everything falls in place.

        Coach Sammy Adjei the U -16  Parsipany Gator's of New Jersey  charges that, he was very impressed by the boys today and every Ghanaian should be proud and now that we have reached the last four of the tournament.         "I am appealing  to the Management of the Black Stars to fulfill all the promises to the team and also they should be motivated to win the Golden trophy and i  believes that with a little push, the Black Stars can lift the trophy."       The former defender of the Black Stars went on to say that,  with the inclusion of  the injured players Ghanacan do wonders at the World Cup.       He prays that a solution should be found to Sulley Muntari’s case before the World Cup. He also supports efforts by the Management of the Blacks Stars to instill discipline in the senior National Team.           Reverend Francis Addo of Worcester-Massachusettsdisclosed that, Ghanaians should always seek the face and the hands of GOD first in all our acts, because without God nothing good can be achieved in life or one’s endeavor and we must fast and pray that God will guide the Black Stars to win the Golden Trophy for the fifth time.

             We say, AYIKOO to the fabulous boys from Ghanawho have taken the Nation's name out there far in Angolaas good Ambassadors. We pray that the Almighty Lord should guide you, be with you and protect you from the hands of our enemies. We are solidly behind you, we are with you in spirit and we say more grease to you elbows.

               Black Stars go for the Gold, since that is how we know of capable of doing; do not forget the National Anthem of Ghana. God bless you all.     :