Black Stars: Too many players for eleven positions

By Michael Yereku

It is almost two and half months to the kick-off of the global sporting showpiece, the World Cup. Due to the able leadership of Kwasi Nyantakyi, the technical team and dedication of patriotic players, Ghana once again made the call of 32 nations to this planetary cerebration of sports.


I see that Nyantakyi & Co are gradually adopting best practices learned around the world of football. Someone should make a call to the Parliament, the Presidency, the Courts, and Police Departments and let them know that Ghanaians in this 21st century demand the best. We have seen the best around the World, and we do not appreciate the smell of Kole Lagoon in the middle of Accra anymore. The World Cup budget is bloated. It should be smaller than the stomach of some of our politicians, "Tweaaaaa", the World Cup budget and politicians' stomachs are not "co-equals."


May be Mahama should have a cabinet meeting on the bridge over the Kole Lagoon. The smell will let the servants of the people, the ministers know that there are a lot to be done in our beloved nation of Ghana. A lot of clean up needed, we demand positive results. No more digression; back to sports.


The sounds are ringing in every Ghanaian’s ears and the people from Bolgatanga, Bechem, Ho and Winneba are singing, “we are the Black Stars, go out there and bring victory to the family members, the village, the town, the city, the region and the nation. Let’s forget about the Supreme Court Case and team B.”

The drums are beating and the red, yellow, green with the bold black star in the middle is flying high over the beautiful tropical oasis of Brazil. Yes, the Black Stars has arrived. Enough with the delirium, excitement and expectations! This is a satire and invocation of laughter is intended, unless your stoical and puritanical side forbid.


Too many players for eleven positions; every player who have put on Ghana Black Stars Jersey either alive, dead, retired, injured or from the bronze winning female under 17 team want to go to Brazil. “Bring it on!!”


Akwasi Appiah just changed his phone number; the old number has been ringing too much lately. When I met him before the All Africa games in Armenian Hall on the East side of Manhattan, I told him that we want him to be the Black Stars coach in the future and when he goes to the All African games, he should use the best U-23 players available. While I was talking to him, Asamoah Gyan was busy on the dance floor at Armenian Hall in Manhattan dancing Azonto with the fine ladies from Ghana. Even the ESPN Soccer Commentator, Tommy Smyth couldn’t help himself, but joined the Azonto dance.


Do you know Black Stars legends present that night in New York? They were who is who in Black Stars history; enough to make the starting line-up in Brazil. As an avid Black Stars fan, I was like a kid in a candy store. I told John Mensah that night that what the fans want from this generation of players is a trophy. The fans are tired of seeing the Black Stars becoming the almost team. It has been over 32 years since 1982 AFCON trophy; this trophy drought is becoming unbearable. The arrival of the World Cup in Accra is the only outcome which will appease the long suffering fans.

Sunday Ibrahim, Kuuku Dadzi, Osei Kofi were all at Armenian Hall in New York; I met a couple of ladies who said they were to meet certain players at the hotel later. But Kuuku Dadzi, Osei Kofi, Ibrahim Sunday, all told me that they will like to feature for five minutes in Brazil. Don’t forget Laryea Kingston, he missed out on 2006 World Cup party. He now demands five minutes leg hopping appearance against German! May be he is a Hamburger!!


Abedi Pele and Anthony Yeboah called, but Akwasi Appiah missed their calls as I was talking to him about inviting Emmanuel Osei Banahene to beef up Ghana’s attack. Stephen Appiah also called and indicated he is seriously searching for a club to sharpen his skills before the opening game in Brazil. John Mensah was there too, but his back was hurting, and Kuuku Dadzi said he could still play center back. I told Akwasi Appiah to give Dadzi a chance because he has been Ghana’s best Center Back in the history of the Black Stars.


The wizard, Osei Kofi indicated since Coach Appiah has forgetting about Nyarko of Chicago fire for the right wing position, he is ready to play right wing in Brazil and send in crosses into the box for Asamoah Gyan and Emmanuel Osei Banahene to head in for goals.


We all should remind him to ask people of Cape Coast to exhume the body of Robert Mensah to be in the goal post in Brazil, since the goalie position is suspect for Ghana . Great Olympics fans have promised not to hurt Robert Mensah anymore, because they rather see the great Robert Mensah in the post than Luis Suarez using his hands. Who is better with crosses into the box, Suarez or Dauda?

It is all about the BS, too many players for eleven positions. What should Akwasi Appiah do? No red cards and ejections, the fans expect good call-ups; enough with Inkoom and Adiyiah. Coach Appiah should go back to the advice I gave him at Armenian Hall before the All African games, use your best, fit players, and bring gold to the mother land.


Too many players for eleven positions and Coach Akwasi Appiah should stick with survival of the fittest and should know that the future belongs to the youth.


Proposed 23 players for Brazil 2014:


Goal Keepers: Adam Kwarasey, Stephen Adams, Razak Barimah

Defenders: Daniel Opare, Samuel Ainooson, Jerry Akaminko, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Awal Mohammed, Jeffery Schlupp, Harrison Afful.


Midfield: Michael Essien, Afriyie Acquah, Dede Ayew, Albert Adomah, Christian Atsu, Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mubarak Wakaso.


Strikers: Asamoah Gyan, Kelvin Prince Boateng, Emmanuel Osei Banahene, Abdul Majeed Warris.


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