Sports
Akonnor’s opening acid test!
Ghana’s sweat merchant, Charles Akonnor, may have been walking a tight rope on the opening day of a friendly engagement against Mali in Turkey. He may have had the Sword of Damocles hanging precariously around his head. But suddenly the danger has eased, and all appears to be on course again.
At least, so it seems!
The trigger was simple. First, the Black Stars were mauled 3-0 by the Eagles of Mali in the first of an international friendly game that saw the latter enormously dominate, forming rings around the Andre Dede Ayew-led team to the chagrin of Ghanaians. It was a day the entire team – including Arsenal new sign-on Thomas Partey – failed to gel.
Akonnor stood baffled after the game. He looked mystified, stupefied and bamboozled. It was a baptism of fire for the former captain of the Black Stars who took over from Kwasi Appiah in January, this year.
Indeed, the general attitude of the boys against Mali was lethargic and they played as though there was absolutely nothing as stake. Maybe, there were no points at stake to be won; but there was pride – there was the nation’s reputation on the line, there was bragging rights!
Above all, the overall organisation of the game was miserable as one found it pretty backbreaking to decipher the kind of formation Ghana was playing. It was pattern-less pain of football.
Unsurprisingly, Akonnor was subjected to a barrage of criticism. He was dragged to the cleaners, whilst some of the cavilers hoped he would improve in his next game against current Asian champions Qatar.
As many may have predicted, Akonnor and his charges got it right this time around. The coach effected five changes to the squad that bowed shamefully without a fight against Mali as they plotted the fall of Qatar in the second friendly.
Erratic goal-tender Razak Abalora gave way to Lawrence Ati-Zigi, while youngster Benson Annan operated at right back with Gideon Mensah maintaining his place at left back. Alexander Djiku who was deployed in a midfield position against Mali, moved to central defence to partner Joseph Aidoo. Djiku and Aidoo played in the heart of defence in place of Nicholas Opoku (injured) and Kassim Nuhu Adams.
In midfield, Baba Iddrisu replaced Bernard Mensah to partner Thomas Teye-Partey to provide cover for the backline.
Saudi Arabia based winger Samuel Owusu ‘snaked’ his way into the starting line-up to play on the right-wing of Ghana’s attack in place of Eugene Ansah. New-man Tarique Fosu operated on the left wing with Captain Andre Ayew playing in the hole behind striker Jordan Ayew.
The changes paid off staggeringly as the Qataris were whitewashed 5-1 after a one-one draw opening half. It was just not the first win for Akonnor that mattered most; on the night, the Stars demonstrated a great derring-do and played as if their lives depended on the outcome of the enchanting game.
Indeed, that is how Ghanaians wanted the Stars to play against Mali; even with a mortifying defeat staring them in the face, the boys were expected to demonstrate some fight – ferocious fight! Sure, they must be prepared to die out of exhaustion rather than give up. That is the true spirit of champions.
The last time Ghana recorded such massive victory was against Congo Brazzaville (5-1) in a Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier three years ago in enemy territory – that saw Partey strike a momentous hat-trick. That is how come the newly-signed Arsenal combative midfielder became a house-hold name in Ghana.
As typical of Ghanaians, some are trying to make mockery of the Qatar win, insisting that the 2022 World Cup hosts were mince meat, or put more befittingly, not a ‘serious’ football nation. That is Ghana for you! If the Qataris had beaten the Stars, a far different story would have been told of the coach, his surrogate and all including the Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Okraku.
Let us try to give credit where it is due.
More importantly, though, Akonnor must be guided by some of the horrendous mistakes the Stars committed in the two games and promptly make the necessary corrections before their next continental assignments against Sudan and South Africa, next month.
Ghana, leaders of Group C, engage Sudan at home and South Africa away in a double header of the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on November 13 and 17 respectively. The Stars have garnered the maximum points from the two games played – having accounted for Sao Tome and Principe 1-0 away before ditching South Africa’s Bafana Bafana 2-0 at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
The four-time African champions are odds on favourites to top the group and make it to the Cameroon 2021 tournament. That looks all-too effortless to predict and that may not be a bother. What is of grave concern is the nation’s disconcerting failure to annex the Holy Grail since 1982 – a stunning 38 years ago.
It is really a torturous shame that we have not been able to clinch the continental rubric all this while. Sad to say that Cameroon had not even won a single trophy in 1982 when Ghana was gallivanting on four; now they have whisked pass the Stars with five coronations.
Egypt had only two coronets in 1982. Today, the Pharaohs are seven-time African champions! Where is Ghana? Sleeping, right?
Strenuous efforts to lift the Golden Fleece have exploded into thin air of disappointments. Today, supporting the Black Stars is a penance one has to bear – and this is the gloomy picture the Okraku administration has promised to change.
Well, we will continue to give the FA and the new Stars our backing, but would not hesitate to drag them to the guillotine when they mess up.
Ghanaians are now sitting on anxious expense and continue to wonder when the disturbing Stygian silence would be broken as regards the coronet. It is really pathetic. It is a heart-rending bother!
As we wish Akonnor and his charges well, let them be reminded that it would take their supreme efforts to win back the love. The love will not come if they churn out disappointing performances. Love will come out of love, not hatred.
Bad football generates hatred! When you play some delectable football, you will attract the crowd and the love would follow suit. It is that simple!
PlainTalk with JOHN VIGAH
Sports
Worst ‘clasico’ in decades
Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko are the biggest traditional clubs in Ghana, without doubt.
There is no argument about their status as far as Ghana football is concerned. Despite their struggles in recent times, the weight of these clubs weigh heavily on the others who seem to be doing well.
In Africa, they seem to have experienced a serious slump in terms of performance on the field but in the history books, they remain strong forces.
In the glory days of Hearts and Kotoko, they were used to gauge the success of football in Ghana.
It is the reason why even in their weakest moment, games against them by the smaller clubs are considered huge tasks.
Just like it is in other countries, they provide local soccer fans with Ghana’s version of the ‘El Clasico’ which usually pitches the top two clubs of every country.
Ghana’s version of this great meeting was honoured on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium and the least said about the performance from the two teams, the better.
It was the poorest in recent times as fans had very little to enjoy from the drab game. It should explain the levels to which Ghana football has dropped, especially the local league.
Under normal circumstances, a clash between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko would create a holiday atmosphere; with several roads around the stadium and ministries area closed to traffic.
Security is heavily felt with fans preferring to leave their vehicles at home and go with public transport to avoid the traffic congestion around the venue – both Accra and Kumasi.
That exciting and anxious atmosphere appear to have lost. Now fans have become apathetic to Ghana’s Clasico.
The scene at the Accra Sports Stadium last Sunday was nothing to write home about; it was sad. It was sad to an extent that a game that required fans to be around the stadium by 12noon and go in by 2pm is now played in a virtually empty stadium.
The current Ghana ‘Clasicos’ lack the players whose names alone were enough to quench the thirst of supporters. With few media houses and the absence of social media platforms to promote such games, the mere mention or knowledge of players to appear for both sides were enough tool to hype the game.
Hearts of Oak fans would flood the stadium in their numbers, confident of seeing players like Ablade Kumah, Shamo Quaye, Owusu Afriyie, Offei Ansah, Ezekiel Alamu, Nanabenyin Crenstil, Emmanuel Armah, Joe Addo, Thomas Hammond, Thomas Quaye and others.
And at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) end of the pitch, one would see fans of Asante Kotoko cladded in red chanting names like Mohammed Odoom, Anthony Osei Kwadwo, Kwesi Appiah, Frank Amankwa, Emmanluel Appiah, Frimpong Manso, Stanley Abora, Sarfo Gyamfi, Joe Debrah, Thomas Boakye, Olli Rahmen, Isaac Boakye and others.
Any team that faced Hearts of Oak or Kotoko with these players in their line up knows it would not end well with them.
So anytime they meet each other, everyone was aware it would rain fire and brimstone.
But what is seen nowadays is quite unfortunate. Player quality has become a major headache for fans. One even wonders how some were recruited into the teams.
Interestingly, police numbers at the stadium last Sunday was more than the fans that turned out to watch the game, a situation that greatly affected the game’s temperament.
Clearly, it shows the level to which Ghana football has sank; calling for urgent measures to rescue it.
The game is lacking the players whose performances would keep fans cheering for over one hour and 30 minutes. Where these players have gone to remains a mystery. We have blamed player exodus on the poor quality of the league but little has been done to halt the trend because of the love for the mighty dollar.
Secondly, the mode of recruitment or scouting have become another problem as very good and talented players are ignored for players with managers that can pay for the platforms to perform to earn a deal abroad.
The problems are numerous with solutions in sight very few but if what fans watched as Ghana’s clasico is anything to go by, then stakeholders must rise up to save Ghana football.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
History beckons as Golden Kick, Attram De Visser battle for MTN FA Cup final spot …Kotoko face Berekum Chelsea tomorrow
Golden Kick FC and Attram De Visser are on the verge of a historic feat in the MTN FA Cup. The two Access Bank Division One League clubs are the last remaining clubs in the competition after eliminating Karela United FC and Pac Academy in the quarterfinals.
The two clubs will lock horns in the semifinal at the TNA Stadium today with a place in the final up for grabs.
The winner of this tie will follow in the footsteps of Okwahu United and Bofoakwa Tano as the third second-tier side to play in the MTN FA Cup final since FC Nania lifted the trophy in 2010/2011.
Golden Kick FC have been impressive in the ongoing campaign, eliminating strong Ghana Premier League sides like Accra Hearts of Oak and Karela United.
The Zone 3 side have played five matches, scored four goals, and kept four clean sheets ahead of the game.
On the other hand, Attram De Visser, who eliminated fellow DOL side Pac Academy in the quarterfinals, have scored five goals, conceded three, and kept two clean sheets. Attram De Visser previously knocked out Bibiani Gold Stars in the Round of 16.
Tomorrow, Asante Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea will take to the pitch in the second semifinal game of the championship.
The all Premier League clash is expected to be a cracker as both sides aim to lay hand on the trophy.
For the four clubs, the FA Cup represents the only chance of a silverware.
This was confirmed by Kotoko’s coach, Karim Zito after holding Hearts of Oak to a goalless encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium in their match day 30 clash of the Ghana Premier League.
Kotoko are huge favourites but Stephen Amankona has always been a threat for the Porcupine Warriors in such games and his presence could likely influence play.
