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Sports Features of Monday, 5 May 2014

Source: Michael Kwaku Fianko

World cup for Africa

As the Elephants are packing their trunks to Brazil, frightening sound of dreaded lions roaring from Yaounde, will lead foxes to screech in the desert, and the eagles have no choice than to soar into deep sky,for stars to orbits around the earth. Though it was the English who gave the world organised football, it was the French who bequeathed football its biggest tournament.
Fifa had been formed in Paris in 1904 and its president, Jules Rimet, formulated the idea of a tournament to determine the best international side in the world. In 1929, fifa passed a vote to hold the first ever World Cup.

Uruguay was the only country to volunteer to host the event in 1930. As a nation celebrating its 100th year of independence, as well as being the holders of the Olympic football title, Uruguay proved an excellent host.

Like so many of the best ideas in football,that of the world cup was conceived in France.Its true parents were indeed two Frenchmen:Jules Rimet,after whom it was eventually named,and Henri Delaunay.Rimet was president of the French federation.The two men complemented each other: Rimet constantly persuaded Delaunay the worker,visionay and energetic.Sometimes they quarreled but they were the pioneers of French football,European football- and the world cup.Today the competition is so massive now. World cup really is the graveyard for tacticians, a competition where the Coach is considered to be a commodity who can be scrapped and replaced at the first sign of trouble, so sackings should not surprise anyone after Brazil 2014. These teams believe the simple act of changing the manager will be enough to revive a squad, often regardless of who is actually coming in.
As football fans across Africa are hoping that one of their World Cup representatives can reach the semi-finals or even win the tournament in Brazil this year, mental aspect of the game remain a constant drawback for the continent.

But can any of the five candidates from Africa win the contest in Brazil? The answer is simply no!

Let's look at Ivory Coast. They have so much talents and always disappointing, this might be the last opportunity for Didier Drogba. With Colombia,Grecee and Japan to contend, there should be no excuse if they fail to progress, comparatively group C is weak hence , Africa number one target Yaya Toure and company can make it to round two. In Group A, Cameroon come face with perennial powers Brazil, Mexico and Croatia. Apart 1990, when Roger Milla's team surprised everyone,now Cameroon has been serial flops surely Eto'o and others, may not go pass round one in Brazil. Algeria have a date with Belgium, Russia and South Korea in group H. In 1982 Lakhdar Belloumi together with Rabah Madjer shocked the world by defeating West Germany 2-1 that is all they can boast of. It look pretty difficult to squeeze through! African champions, Nigeria should confront old foes Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in style. Eagles do have a chance
to
make it beyond group F. A lot will depend on in-form Vincent Enyeama to realize dream of annexing the cup for Africa's first ever triumph. If the unexpected happens-the boys from Abuja will be rewarded $ 100,000 each.
Now in group G,Black stars has daunting task against former champions Germany,Ronaldo's Portugal and USA. Ghana, self-declared world title hopefuls or call them Arabian kings simply because they enjoy the biggest bonuses on this planet and nothing to show for in 32 years. Stars quest to win the mundial
is big illusion. The defensive shore line is probably their weakest point,coach Kwasi Appiah is not certain of his number one shot-stopper yet. It will be prudent to keep Kwarasey than Fatau who look more erratic in post. On this basis alone only stiff-necked person will predict victory for Ghana!
So what were the boys demanding $18 000 per match for?,was it because the FA chief has promised Ghanaians he will come home with the trophy? Is extremely laughable-Ghana to pick world cup,when was the last time stars won "ANYTHING" on earth ? Oh God save Ghana football! The lack of frugality in needlessly increasing the winning bonus to the footballers, at the time that the nation is reeling under economic hardships and energy sector in huge mess,ostentatious and extravagant spending will further plummet the economy.But it appears as if when it comes to football, it is huge sin for people to criticize the authorities and Black Stars players in their relationship with the rest of us.With the draw out for next year African cup of nations the proper thing to do is to focus intensely on the continental showpiece.A competition Ghana has consistently failed to capture in recent times.What beat the stretch of every imagination is:these under-performing
Black
Stars keep enjoying big wallets.The more they are paid,the more they keep failing their motherland.Maybe the right players are not selected into the team because of some greedy elements at the FA! Well if they really cares about Ghana football,they should put down a four-year plan to conquer Africa. Morocco 2015 and beyond is achievable not Brazil 2014..