In the first article posted under this title, the article mentioned the Captainship Band in terms of, when John Mensah, John Painstil, Sulley Ali Muntari and Asamoah Gyan are off the pitch, who is the band supposed to go to. Hopefully that area of the argument is very clear to us all since facts were brought to support the argument. Thanks, read on.
Now to the fans, we all have had the greatest expectation that our team was to go all the way to win the trophy. Unfortunately, the team couldn't. In 2010 AFCON, Ivory Coast had the best team but was beaten by Algeria, a team Nigeria defeated to claim a third position during that tournament. I’m not insinuating as the Supper Eagles are bad. No, that is not my point. If we would look back, we took out the Supper Eagles in the semi-finals. In other words, logically, Ivory Coast was supposed to beat Algeria without doubt, but they couldn’t. I’m not pinching a wound but to draw your attention as football is not ALWAYS won by how better your team is. Have we all forgotten that we were trashed by that same Ivory Coast team (3-0) in the group stages in that same 2010 AFCON tournament, a team that couldn’t get to a semi-final berth? That is football for you, folks. Anything can happen in this sport. In the American Football, Redskin beat Giant twice in the regular season but Giant won the SuperBowl
Ivory Coast couldn't even make it to the semi finals in that 2010 AFCON tournament and it wasn't because they were not good. They had a great team but things happened. Do you people think Ivory Coast fans gave up on them? I don't think so. Today, they may be sad and some may cry for the fact that they still couldn’t lift up the trophy; we are all witnessing happiness in the faces of their fans just because they made it to the finals they had been waiting for the past years. A football tournament is unpredicted and we should know that.
Therefore, it is about time we support ours and hope for the best next year. There is always another year, another chance, another glory, another everything; therefore, let us embrace our boys for better, for worst. That is purely nationalism.
Missing penalties is part of the game. If it wasn't, every penalty once missed would have been ordered for re-take. Drogba missed a crucial penalty yesterday which may have given the Elephants the ultimate win they have been waiting for since 1992. Unfortunately, Drogba of all people also missed it. Folks, that is football for you. Like Roberto Baggio, an Italian Football Legend, said in his autobiography titled, ("A Goal in the Sky", but also "A Gate in the Sky"), kindly allow me to paraphrase his statement, an opportunity that can lift you up for doors to open could also be a disaster that can bring you down for dreams to shatter. Yes, our dreams have shattered twice through Asamoah Gyan’s error. On the other hand, have we forgotten of his contributions that have lifted up the country’s spirit in several occasions?
For us to be placed against Uruguay, to begin with during the 2010 WC, it was based on the last goal scored by Asamoah Gyan against USA in the round of sixteenth. This was the goal that lifted our country up. The result may have gone the other way if that goal wasn’t recorded. Remember, this goal didn't occur through a penalty kick. Gyan forcefully raced through two defenders and lashed the shot which gave us the victory to go against Uruguay.
Here is another victory the country celebrated through Asamoah Gyan's effort, Ghana against Nigeria, 2010 AFCON semi-final match. This goal came in the 21st minute of the match through his header. This was the match that placed us head to head with the Egyptians in the finals which we eventually lost 1-0. If he wasn’t able to scored that goal, none of us would have known the outcome of the match. I could go on and on…..; however, that is not my point. The point I'm trying to make is that Asamoah Gyan has contributed immensely to the country's successes and excesses in football world and there is no way he could have isolated himself from the country’s disastrous incidents in this sport. If we can take the good part of the player, why can't we take the bad part as well? You couldn't tell me you love his assets but hate his liabilities. That is a hate crime and we must certainly try to avoid that knowing where Ghana stands in terms of the righteous.
May be we can take a lesson from Roberto Baggio’s reason of becoming a fun of the Boca Juniors, an interview with him and Gazzetta Dello Sport. The legend was asked why he doesn’t support the Italian clubs but a South American club. Below was his respond.
"How did I become a fan of Boca? It's an interesting story. A rainy Sunday, I was at my house with a friend of mine and I saw a game on TV. The score was 4–0, and was played at the Boca stadium, La Bombonera. At one point they scanned across the crowd at their fans: they danced, they sang, they twirled flags and banners. A contagious joy. I said to my friend, “It's beautiful to do this when their team is winning.” The friend, whom he was talking to turned to me and said, “Roberto, are you watching? Boca are losing 0–4!” From that moment Boca has become my team. That stadium gives me incredible feelings," as the football legend stated.
The above illustration cements my argument on the need to support our team and the players, come what may, even if we are down like the Boca Juniors were doing when they were done 4-0. As citizens of the country, what we can do to help Gyan and the team for them to do better next time? My little advice is to encourage them instead. Criticism is good for it motivates but not when it brings division among players. The country doesn't need publications from the media that demolishes. We have had enough of that. When the team broke down from Abedi’s and Yeboah’s era, it took over a decade and a half to build it up. As we all know, it takes seconds to destroy but ages to build. It is time to build with our pens and the knowledge given to us.
I’m through.
In All Things, Get Wisdom, Get Understanding.
Ransford Frempong Peprah (Football Analyst) (Rnsfdpeprah@yahoo.com)
