Oberhausen, June 27, GNA - At long last the battle is over and Ghana is free forever.

This independence slogan by Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah rightly describes the struggle made by various soccer connoisseurs to see the appearance of Ghana's Black Stars at the World Cup.

Thanks to Almighty Allah the long cherished dream has come to fruition and manifested itself justifiably at the 2006 World Cup soccer fiesta where the Stars have chalked success over world's number one Czech Republic with an emphatic 2-0 score-line and followed it up with victory over the USA that has ensured their qualification from the group stages.

Now that the day is over and the Stars are pitched against the world's number one mighty Brazil at the elimination stage, it behoves all to lend their support despite the fact that the two are pools apart in FIFA rankings.

The feeling among most Ghanaians in the Diaspora indicates confidence and over zealousness to triumph over the Brazilians with every other country in Germany lending their support to the Stars following their recent performance that many cannot believe can ever happen.

The views of most supporters is that Ghana has come of age and that now is the time for the Stars to showcase the country's brand of soccer to the entire world and it is obvious that Ghana's desire and dream of being counted among the greats in the world has come of age which has long been over due.

The boys have worked hard right from their qualification stage and have steadily progressed with a fascinating showing in Germany and it is also about time that the doubting Thomas and all well wishers come out openly to beat their chest out and raise their heads above water to celebrate the opportunity that the occasion provides.

Ghana's journey to the World Cup has not been all that rosy since it took the combined effort of four coaches at various periods in preparing the team by often directing the technical bench. The coaches include three foreigners made up of German Ralf Zumdick who acted in a temporal caretaker position at the preliminary round to guide the Stars against Somalia.

Then came in Portuguese Mariano Barreto after Ghana was placed in Group 2 alongside favourites South Africa, DR Congo, Uganda, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde.

The opening game saw the Stars losing to the Stallions of Burkina Faso by a lone goal but the team resolved to make amends by breaking the dominance of the South Africans with an emphatic 3-0 win in Kumasi. They then managed a hard fought one all drawn game against the Cranes of Uganda in Kampala and went ahead to brush aside the threat from tiny Cape Verde with a 2-0 win in Kumasi and it was then that Barreto unceremoniously deserted the Stars in deep waters to coach in his native First Division team.

Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord's coach Sam Arday then also came on as the stop-gap coach to take the team through their next stage match against DR Congo in Kumasi where the team had to desperately fight for a point as the Congolese did all to frustrate their progress.

The mantle again fell on Serbian coach Ratomir Djukovic who earlier masterminded the demolition of Ghana and ensured the qualification of Rwanda to their first African Cup appearance.

The second round saw the Stars once again drawing with DR Congo and followed with a 2-1 win against the Stallions of Burkina Faso that paved the way for Ghana's qualification campaign back on tract. The Stars kept their cool and made Ghanaians beat their chest out with a convincing 2-0 win over their nemesis, South Africa in Johannesburg.

This was followed with a 2-0 win against the Cranes of Uganda in Kumasi in the penultimate round of matches and put the icing on the cake with a 4-1 trouncing of Cape Verde on their home soil to ensure Ghana's direct entry to Germany.

Ghana's entry to Germany culminated in the showcasing of Ghanaian brand of soccer at the World Cup that saw the Stars losing their opening match against their Italian counterparts by an unbelievable 2-0 loss after a beautiful outing.

The loss however, seemed to have worked the magic in the boys as their adrenaline reached a high pitch to beat the much dreaded Czechs with a 2-0 score-line and added the USA to the lot while the fanatics were calling the blood of Brazil and the time is now.

It is now opportune for the boys to gird their loins and concentrate on their game and not allow the Brazilians to ran amok and spoil our day.

Ghana has to prove a point that African soccer has come of age and it is for all pessimists and optimists to come together to stand solidly behind the Stars as they approach the Brazilians to put Ghana's name in the true colours of red, gold and green at the World Cup soccer fiesta. The boys are resolved to showcase their talent and determination to the admiration of all and this must be now or never. May God give us the strength and wisdom to upbeat our opponents. Amen. .