Ghanamania rules

From Petros Kausiyo in JOHANNESBURG, South Africa

AS Ghana brace for their epic World Cup quarter-final showdown with Uruguay, the fever surrounding that match moved into high tempo yesterday with fans, the media and officials alike tuning in to the Black Stars mania that has swept its away from Accra to the rest of the continent.

The Black Stars, seeking to become the first African team in a World Cup semi-final, go into battle against the South Americans at Soccer City tonight in the first meeting between the two nations at senior level.

But such has been the hype that has followed this match that even pay per view television channel SuperSport have been on a campaign to make today a, "Black Stars Friday’’.

SuperSport have also erected banners entitled "Support Africa’s last team standing’’ where they have been asking viewers and listeners to don the Black Stars colours on the day of the match.

"SuperSport and Primedia have joined forces to support Africa’s last team standing in the 2010 World Cup. In support of the Black Stars, we are encouraging people to dress up in Ghana’s colours on Friday as the team prepares for its do-or-die quarter-final battle against Uruguay. Let’s do Football Friday — for Ghana!’’ reads the campaign message.

World Cup Local Organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan also joined into the fray yesterday and told a media briefing that he was relishing the prospects of seeing an African team among the tournament’s last four.

"The prospects are amazing for us. There is the possibility of an African team going across a frontier we have not crossed before, a semi-final in the World Cup. We hope that we will see the first African player to dance at the corner flag of the semi-final and the final. This is what we always wanted to achieve and why we have been talking of the importance of this African World Cup.

"This will be carved into the memory of this World Cup," said Jordaan.

Ghana’s showdown with Uruguay will be the second of the quarter-final matches coming just a couple of hours after the last eight games would have burst into life in Port Elizabeth when five-time champions Brazil clash against Netherlands at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Jordaan said the start of the quarter-final matches marked another exciting chapter in the story of the first World Cup on African soil.

"We look forward to an incredible quarter-final and semi-final. The final match is going to be the biggest moment for our country. It is about the real heart of this World Cup," said Jordaan.

The LOC chief executive who appears to have weathered the barrage of criticism that has often followed his committee’s tenure also reflected on the hard work that has been put into the hosting of the tournament with 10 days to go before Soccer City — scene of the opening ceremony — also hosts the final.

"This is the dream of (Nelson) Mandela and a dream of (Desmond) Tutu and has been 16 years of hard work. This dream is an incredibly exciting experience for all of us,’’ said Jordaan.

For Jordaan there are a lot of exciting possibilities that could become a reality over the last few days of the World Cup. "There is the possibility of two coaches going only where Franz Bekenbauer has gone before — to have won a World Cup as a player and as a coach. We are now sitting with Maradona and Dunga who both have this chance. We also have the possibility of a Brazil and Argentina final and of course in world football that is one of the biggest that you can have," Jordaan said.

Jordaan also reckoned that South Africa’s organisation of the tournament had left an indelible mark and earned the country a lot of plaudits from Fifa, the participating teams, visitors and other international sporting organisations as it showcased the nation’s capabilities.

"It’s wonderful that the doubters are the believers today. Some of our worst critics are now coming to say ‘we were wrong’. It is very satisfying to us as a nation and people. It is an affirmation of our country’s ability to deliver," said Jordaan.

And after the final whistle has blown on Africa’s first World Cup, Jordaan believes the positive energy from the tournament will not disappear.

"The atmosphere has just been incredible but how do we sustain this after the World Cup? Already people are complaining during the rest days yesterday and today that there is no football to watch. It is something we will have to get used to.

"The country will continue to focus on nation building and infrastructure — this is an ongoing national programme of the country and not just for the World Cup and already we are talking about hosting the Olympics. This incredible experience will translate into actions," said Jordaan.

But it is the manner in which the Black Stars mania has spread that has really captured the imagination. And as the last team still remaining in the tournament, Ghana have found themselves well supported in the host nation and across the continent.

All over South Africa the Ghanaian colours are finding their way into the homes, cars and wardrobes of local fans with many acknowledging that "Ghana have really put Africa’s presence into this tournament."

The Black Stars’ success especially their triumph over the United States has also converted a lot people, many of whom were not necessarily the biggest football fans before.