Ben Koufie said it all

(A GNA feature by Veronica Commey)

Accra, April 18, GNA - The clamour for the need to create a core of the Black Stars team to represent Ghana when the finest on the continent descend for the Nations Cup that must revolve around the locally-based players, is the timeliest comment made from any quarters in recent times.


Ben Koufie, former GFA Chairman's suggestion might have generated mixed reactions but a careful consideration would prove that countries like Egypt succeeded with a similar plan that makes the idea worth pursuing.


Before one questions whether it is automatic that Ghana will win the competition with such a plan because Egypt did, may I say that the advantages that comes with the idea are many, which when tackled well will make lots of sense against the dominance by foreign-based players during such national call-ups.


Considering the fact that the climate and its acclimatization could easily turn as a trump card in crucial tourneys such as the Nations Cup, it is similarly imperative to understand that no matter how fast a team, dominated by foreign-based players may adjust to new conditions, it can never come any close to a team assembled in such a climate.

The reality is that the players would not only build cohesion - a vital ingredient in every good team, but also stand as favourites in terms of the surfaces pencilled for the three-week fiesta.


One main reason that the country won the Under-20 African Championship hosted here in 1999 was not only because the players were exceptional, but also because they had also enjoyed the best of the pitches and their bits of cohesion had to glitter.


Ghana previously dominated the youth tourney largely because, to me our reliance on a local squad had the luxury of long camping and togetherness laid at their doorsteps that proved decisive. Its been proven that keeping a team together for a long time is a huge advantage against opponents - something only an opponent with exceptional qualities and luck can take away.


After the Black Starlets failure to sparkle in the last FIFA World U-17 Championship in Peru, it became evident that the last minute reshuffling of the team a month earlier was only robbed from cashing in the gold during the African event held in Gambia that largely affected the team's cause.

The call here is not to dispose off of the foreign based players, but one that seeks to emphasis that relying on them during matches in Europe where they are at an advantage of being accustomed to the weather as against the home-based is always a healthy choice.


It is obvious that for Egypt's success story in the last championship relying on the locally-based players was such a decisive factor that even when their "Prince Charm" and "Bad boy" Ahmed Mido got the sack for calling his coach a donkey, they were able to ride high on compatibility, understanding and cohesion to lift the trophy the fifth time.


No one is under-estimating the capabilities of the foreign-based players to rise to the challenge but it remains a truism that after the various complaints of harsh weather by a host of our players whenever they underperformed in previous matches, its only fair for the equally talented ones who would love to cave a name for themselves in front of the home crowd, scouts and the cameras that they focus all attention here is carefully thought through.


When Guiseppe Dossena named his team for the 2000 event co-hosted by Ghana, it was hailed as the best seen in years.

Interestingly, the abysmal performance that ensured the team could only go as far as the quarter final stage was not enough to prove that one player who managed to make a mark during the team's brief stay in the competition was Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, then of Accra Hearts of Oak's fame.


Sadly it did not ring a bell that it was not for nothing that the player who was a substitute in the Stars' 1-1 match against the "Indomitable Lions" of Cameroon got the nod as a first team player in the subsequent games.


Without disputing his quality, Kuffour proved that having the crowd behind you and feeling relaxed under the weather, which is often harsh during such a period of the year was a fine combination needed to make the difference as he made with his touches and movements.


With experience being the best teacher, the foreign-based players who would be in form during that time can always compliment the effort of their colleagues for the good of the nation.

The success story of the Greek team that lifted the European trophy hosted by Portugal in 2004 is a typical example of the benefits that team building can offer.


One common trait the Starlets squad that ruled the world in 1991 and 1995 had was their duration of camping plus the drills they went together as a team.


That telepathic understanding ensured that Sebastian Barnes almost closed his eyes but perfectly clearing his lines for Isaac Asare to initiate the move from the flanks for the waiting and slippery Yaw Preko to send in the vital crosses for Nii Odartey Lamptey to score. That same cohesion made it simple for Dan Addo to send long crosses to Emmanuel Duah, before the latter also cut through their opponents defence before setting up Joe Fameye to notch home the goals that made him the "Alpha and Omega" in the Japan 93 competition.


With the potentials at our disposal, every task remains surmountable with good preparation, careful planning, good international friendlies and all there is to it.