Sunday, September 6 Ghana v Sudan
GHANA’S given name during the colonial era was Gold Coast. The name, granted by the British in tribute to the mineral wealth of their colony, can just as easily have been in reference to the goldmine of footballing potential resident in this nation of 22 million inhabitants.
Such is the embarrassment of riches at Milovan Rajevac’s disposal that Ghana’s Serb coach is debating whether or not to start his most talismanic star against The Sudan today.
For all intents and purposes, Stephen Appiah isn’t just a footballer in Ghana. The Black Stars captain is an elder statesman; an influential figurehead whose sheer importance to Ghanaian football was best illustrated when, despite an injury, he was dragged along to Egypt at the last Nations Cup to inspire his teammates.
Michael Essien might be the most recognizable Black Star for now; Sulley Muntari might be the trickiest. But when it comes to cerebral technique and radar-like vision, none of the current Black Stars is worthy to even untie the bootlaces of Appiah.
Where Essien prefers to pummel opponents into submission; and Muntari charms and hypnotizes using his magical left foot, Appiah is all about subtle manipulation; an accomplished architect who pulls strings in midfield with all the finesse of a master puppeteer.
Under normal circumstances, Appiah’s would be the first name entered in Rajevac’s team-sheet. But, alas dear reader, the circumstances surrounding Ghana’s qualifier against The Sudan are far from ordinary.
Ghana has a 100% record, having won all their matches without conceding a goal.
Appiah has been absent throughout this glorious streak, hamstrung by a nagging injury that haunted him like his own shadow till a few months back.
Gone might be his injury concerns but Appiah still wrestles with an even more complex problem: the former Juventus midfielder has no club.
Appiah’s status as a jobless footballer has left him short of the requisite match practice; an issue that has been lost to ordinary Ghanaians who have turned the “Bring Back Appiah” campaign into a national crusade.
Most Ghanaians insist that just the aura of Appiah, however match-unfit, should prove too good for the Desert Hawks of The Sudan.
Football has never been a democracy. But coach Rajevac, who’s preached against complacency, nevertheless has little choice but to submit to public opinion.
