Don’t force  them to play!

Qualification games to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar roared off barely two years ago – with many wondering whether Ghana could snatch one of the continent’s five tickets to its fourth Mundial. 

The nation carved a historic World Cup debut in Germany (2006) – continuing the romance in South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014), but failed to navigate their path to Russia (2018). 

The Russia embarrassing fiasco jogged on the ‘nagging heels’ of disgraceful events of the Brazil World Cup that saw a heart-rending player rebellion – totally consumed by love for cash, robbing the team of a potentially eye-catching campaign. A calamitous first round exit was the upshot!

Indeed, Ghanaians were not the least surprised at all about the Russia qualification disaster; it was all-too predictable – albeit the players gave it a thoroughly decent fight.

But that is history now. No one wants to remember it. 

What many Ghanaians are probably still celebrating now is the Black Stars triumphant entry into Qatar – upstaging no less an opposition than Nigeria’s Super Eagles. The sweetness in that momentous victory was that the Stars snatched qualification from the wild jaws of Abuja  – (away goal rule) – not in Kumasi where the playoff game ended barren.

Victory did not only ensure passage to a fourth World Cup but raised strong concerns about building a formidably winsome Black Stars squad capable of making remarkable impression in the minds of fans.

Though many agree that at least the nucleus of the new-look squad that edged the Super Eagles must be in Qatar, it is the general view that the team must be augmented for the fierce challenges ahead.

However, there seems to be some alarm bells of anxiety and desperation as there have been calls for players like striker Inaki Williams (Atletico Bilbao), Chelsea midfielder Hudson Odoi and Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu among others, to join the squad.

Sadly, some of the players being bandied around are clearly not desirous about donning the national colours now – and one wonders why we are still at their heels.

As a matter of principle, we must make it a point not to compel anybody to play for the national team – no matter how big and grandeur the player is.

In any case, to qualify to feature for the Black Stars, a player must demonstrate a patriotic zeal; must have a huge desire to don the red-gold-green-and-star shirt. It is such a huge shirt, and nobody must be pampered to wear it.

Ahead of the nervy qualifier against Nigeria, some of the players indicated their availability only when Ghana qualifies. Such players must not have a space in the team.

From experience, once so-called marquee players are forced or kowtowed to play, they tend to hold their own country to ransom. No way!

It is always better to go into a competition with 11 average dedicated and whole-heartedly committed players on the field than carry a bus-full load of embarrassingly rich array of stars!

Mind you, you cannot buy commitment. You cannot buy valour. You cannot buy dedication. But you can buy big stars with money!

PlainTalk with John Vigah