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 Weep not for Black Stars, Appiah (Final part)

The Black Stars

The Black Stars

 Coaches have gone and come yet the Stars remain the Stars we have known under the previous managers.

The same applies to the playing staff which has seen generations come and gone, but not been able to add to the four AFCONs won by the 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982 year groups.

What is yet to be tried is the advice to restart the whole process with a plan that will be centred on developing local players and making them the core of the team.

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This appears a gamble the ‘football people’ are not ready to take for the fear of failing to earn qualifications or being vilified and lampooned by the fans.

But to serve the FA a reminder, this is a perfect time to embrace this idea.

It is because Ghana has gotten to a stage where fans are fed up with the players for their regular disappointment.

In fairness, this should be the beginning of a completely new rebuild with focus on the local players who already possesses the demands of Kurt Okraku. The only reason it has not been considered is the lack of faith in them.

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What is needed for them will be patience from fans. This may have been tried in the past without the success rate expected because it would take a lot of time for the team to gel.

Former Black Stars defender, Shilla Illiasu, made a similar call after the match, calling for a development plan to follow to build a new team.

In Illiasu’s view, it would be in the best interest of the FA to abandon the quest to qualify for competitions in the next five years; a period within which recommendations in the plan would be implemented.

“Going forward, I think the time has come for every Ghanaian to let us understand that there is a problem with the team and in order to build a solid team, we need to forget about AFCON and World Cup and to put together a plan; maybe a five year development plan and let the whole country understand that there is a problem with the team.”

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Illiasu has hit the nail right on it head. It is surely the way to go to stop going around in circles with players who have regularly shown that they lack the quality needed to get Ghana the results.

It may sound a tough call but without the luxury of foreign based players for Sudan, Kwesi Appiah has shown the way in a similar fashion; building a team consisting of home based players.

If Appiah was asked to implement this in Ghana about five years ago, he would have been among those to brush aside the idea.

But in a country with few options, he has built a team which is a point away from qualifying to an AFCON at the expense of Ghana.

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Of course, that does not automatically transform Appiah into the best coach on the continent; at least he has proven that one can build a winsome team with players plying their trade on home soil.

If at a point foreign based players showed promise and wants to join, such a player must be made to fight for a role.

For now all seem lost for Ghana. For Sudan, Kwesi Appiah and his Ghanaian assistant, Ignatius Kwame Osei-Fosu, and their charges have every reason to savour the moment. They should not weep for Ghana because his blueprint full of belief in the abilities of local based players can be implemented.

Appiah’s has worn a sombre mood obviously due to his affiliation to Ghana but as a professional with a greater understanding of the game, he has every reason to celebrate with Sudanese.

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The rest would be left to the ‘football people’ to take a major decision to halt the downward spiral of our game.

 By Andrew Nortey

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Bukari, Forson Amankwah, Schindler, others join Black Stars for upcoming qualifiers

Osman Bukari (Austin FC), Ransford Yeboah Koningsdorffer (Hamburger SV), Forson Amankwah (Norwich City), Terry Yegbe (IF Elfsborg), Ebenezer Annan (OFK Beograd) and Kingsley Schindler (Samsunspor) will join the Black Stars ahead of crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

These players replace Joseph Paintsil, Antoine Semenyo, Ibrahim Osman, Tariq Lamptey, Jerome Opoku, and Inaki Williams, who are unavailable. Ghana faces Angola on Friday, November 15 and host Niger on Monday, November 18, 2024.

The team trains at Accra Sports Stadium, starting Monday, November 11, at 5 p.m.

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Premier League: Gold Stars FC maintain unbeaten start; Nations FC smash Nsoatreman; Kotoko fall to Bechem United

Gold Stars FC maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a remarkable draw at Young Apostles FC, Nations FC crashed Nsoatreman FC while Asante Kotoko are without a win in their last three Premier League matches.

Young Apostles 0-0 Gold Stars FC

Gold Stars FC maintained their unbeaten run in the Premier League as they shared a goalless draw with Young Apostles FC at the Wenchi Stadium on Sunday.

Frimpong Manso’s side have now gone 10 matches without a defeat but have seen their three-point lead at the top of the table cut to just one following the stalemate.

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The home side dominated possession as expected, but were tested by the visitors on several occasions at the Nana Abrefa Nketiah VII Stadium in Wenchi as the two teams shared the spoils.

The Bibiani-based side are top of the table with 20 points from 10 games, while Young Apostles have slipped to 14th in the table.

Bechem United 1-0 Asante Kotoko SC

Asante Kotoko are without a win in three matches after losing 1-0 at Bechem United in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Kofi Tompuo’s spectacular volley in the 27th minute separated the two teams at the Nana Gyeabour Park in Bechem.

The Porcupine Warriors have dropped out of the top four as they now lie 6th in the table with United placed in mid-table.

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Nations FC made light work of Nsoatreman FC after hammering the visitors 3-0 in Sunday’s match day 10 fixture in the Premier League.

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In-form wideman Faisal Charwetey continued his fine form with a brace after Bi Boris had opened the scoring for the home side.

Boris scored first in the 7th minute before Charwetey added further goals in the 10th and 18th minute to complete the rout at the Dr.Kwame Kyei Sports Complex.

Charwetey, who has now scored seven goals in 10 matches, is the leading top scorer in the 2024-25 Premier League so far.

Nations are just a point behind leaders Gold Stars FC in second place with 19 points.

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Aduana FC 1-0 Karela United

Aduana FC continued their resurgence with a solitary 1-0 win over Karela United at home on Sunday.

Gideon Boateng scored the only goal of the match to separate the two teams at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park.

The Fire Club has now moved up to 11th in the table with 11 points while United are just a point above the bottom three.

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Basake Holy Stars 2-1 Accra Lions

Basake Holy Stars rallied from behind to beat Accra Lions 2-1 at the Crosby Awuah Memorial (C.A.M) Park on Sunday.

Holy Stars goalkeeper Dubi Kassi Tayi guided the ball into his own net in the 33rd minute before Prince Tweneboah grabbed a sensational brace in the 63rd and 91st minute.

The match appeared to be heading to a 1-1 draw until Tweneboah stepped up with the decisive goal in added time.

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The Aiyinase-based side lie 10th in the table with 12 points while Accra Lions lie in the bottom three.

Heart of Lions 1-0 Berekum Chelsea

Heart of Lions recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Berekum Chelsea at home on Sunday to jump into the top four.

Christian Agyenim Boateng’s second half strike was all that Lions needed to wrap up a win at the Kpando Stadium.

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Lions have now jumped to third in the table with 17 points, just three behind leaders Gold Stars FC while Chelsea have slipped to 8th in the table.

FC Samartex 1996 1-0 Legon Cities

Seidu Abubakar scored in stoppage time for FC Samartex 1996 in their 1-0 win over Legon Cities at home on Sunday.

The visitors will feel heartbroken after holding the defending champions until the 90th minute when Abubakar slotted home the decisive goal to down the Royals at the Nsenkyire Arena.

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Samartex have jumped to 4th in the table with 17 points while Legon Cities remain in the bottom three.

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