Balotelli Should Learn a Lesson from Freddy Edu of U.S.A.

Freddy Edu was eight years old when he and his family won the U.S. Green Card lottery. Soon after their arrival to the U.S.A., world football fans and the media shifted their attention to the Maryland and Washington DC area of the U.S.A., not because of the Whitehouse or politicians, but because of the arrival of a talented football star called Freddy Edu.

Many football analyst around the world projected Freddy Edu to become a world superstar and win the world best player of the year award several time in his football career by the time he becomes an adult. In fact most football experts referred to him as the new “Pele”. At the age of 13, Freddy Edu was given a Million Dollar endorsement by Nike. Freddy Edu then went ahead to represent the United states at the world under 17 and under 20 levels. His superb display of talent at both youth tournaments led to many Ghanaians calling for him to switch his nationality to Ghana, to enable him represent Ghana by joining the black stars.

As young as he was at that time, Freddy Edu was confident that he was eventually going to represent the U.S.A. at the senior world cup tournament, and for that matter decided to reject calls from Ghana to join the black stars. I am sure Freddy Edu made such a decision because he did not believe that Ghana could ever qualify for the world cup, because excellent players such as Abedi Pele and Tony Yeboah was not able to help Ghana qualify for the world cup. Soon after he rejected calls to join the black stars of Ghana, Stephen Appiah and Essien helped Ghana qualify for the 2006 World Cup. Again attempts were made by Ghana to have him join the black stars of Ghana for the 2006 World Cup in Germany but he refused to switch his nationality to play for Ghana.

Freddy Edu played for clubs in the U.S.A., France, Portugal and Greece with the expectation of an invitation by the head coach of the U.S. senior football team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but was disappointed for not been part of Coach Bob Bradley’s 2010 world cup plans. Bob Bradley prefers his own son and the current striker of relegated Hall City (Jozy Altidore) to Freddy Edu. I am sure Freddy will be looking back to those days when Ghana made numerous calls to have him join the black stars. It is too late now for him to switch his nationality because he has represented the USA at the senior level already and for that matter cannot switch to play for the Ghana black stars anymore. What a disappointment at this early stage of his football career. I believe strongly that Inter Milan’s Italian young talent Balotelli is in the same situation as Freddy Edu was a few years ago. Despite his controversial character and the numerous troubles he has had with Italian football fans, he is a superb striker. There is no doubt that if given the proper guidance and direction, Balotelli will become the darling boy of world football fans around the world. He will be an asset to the Ghana black stars. He is currently making same mistakes Freddy Edu made by not switching his nationality to play for the Ghana black stars at the World Cup. His refusal to talk to the current coach of the Ghana black stars during his visit to Italy a few months ago has led to many Ghanaians calling for the black stars coach to stop pursuing him.

I am sure Boateng’s decision to switch his German nationality to Ghana has given him an excellent opportunity to add a world cup appearance to his football resume. I also believe Eric Addo’s nationality switch from Belgium to Ghana and representing Ghana at the world cup in 2006 was a smart move. It is the dream of every footballer to play at the world cup. The chances of Italy giving Mario Balotelli the opportunity to play for Italy at the world cup is very slim. He is not in the current 30 man squad for Italy and may not be invited for future world cups.

I believe in the current GFA’s justify your inclusion policy. I have no doubt that the GFA, and for that matter Ghanaians will continue to keep their doors open to all talented Ghanaians or foreign nationals with Ghanaian background to switch their nationality to represent Ghana at world tournaments.

I want to take the opportunity to encourage Balotelli to learn a lesson from the bad experience Freddy Edu had by turning down Ghana’s invitation to represent Ghana. Ghana will be glad to have him join the black stars but can only keep the invitation open for a limited time. The time is now for him to decide. He has the option to go to the world cup by playing for Ghana or reject Ghana’s invitation and not ever play at the world cup. The choice is yours Balotelli. God bless Ghana.

By: Nick Amuna, Email: nicamuna@yahoo.com USA