By E. K. Kissi
I am perturbed to hear from people that Ghana do not have strikers. We do!! The positions in the modern day Black Stars are hijacked by certain individuals. Coach Plavi and Ghana Football Association, give other players the chance to honor the country!!
Putting on the Black Stars’ jersey is an honor not a right. The Black Stars’ platform and brand are priceless and famous in modern day soccer world. No footballer of Ghanaian descent should be allowed to take for granted the global marketing power a footballer receives for representing Ghana as a Black Star.
Those players who think playing for the national team is their right and not an honor should be eliminated from the team immediately. Every Black Stars’ fan knows that Kevin Prince Boating’s profile and career sky rocketed after putting on the Ghana jersey as a Black Star and playing in 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Ten years ago, players like John Mensah, John Pantsil, Michael Essien, Derek Boateng all received their chances to become Black Stars when legendary coach Osam Duodu made a bold decision during 2002 AFCON in Mali to ignore Charles Akunnor, Alex Nyarko and Augustine Ahinful’s generation in favor of the Essien and Mensah’s generation.
Players who played in 2002 AFCON in Mali like Sammy Adjei, John Pantsil, John Mensah, Michael Essien and Derek Boateng were all making their AFCON tournament debuts. While our past coaches like Osam Duodu were risk takers in giving emerging generation a chance, contracted missionary coaches like Plavi are afraid to take the risk of bringing in new talents.
Currently, the path to Black Stardom for emerging stars is blocked!! How many people have we tried at the striker position to give Asamoah Gyan competition? Even when Ghana has a friendly match or a tournament, the coach keeps calling the same players. I blame Akwasi Appiah, Edward Ansah and Opuku Afriyie for such occurrence. It is possible that established players arrive with gifts all the time to cement their call ups all the time. It is time to re-shuffle the assistant coaches just as the Presidents do with ministers.
For instance, when Richard Kingston was Ghana’s goal keeper, no one was given a chance in friendly matches and tournaments to compete with him. Kingston was always featured in every game. As soon as Adam Kwarasey was given a chance, he displaced Kingston. In 2012 AFCON, the coach gave John Boye a chance and look how well he displayed. It is time to give more players the opportunity to be Black Stars!!
With regard to strikers, how many Black Stars’ games have Dominic Oduro played? Is he not a striker? How will we know how good he is if we do not give him a fair playing time? What about the following guys: Jeffrey Schlupp, Emmanuel Baffour, Boakye Yiadom, Kwame Nsor, Emmanuel Clottey, Eric BeKoe, Yaw Antwi, William Owusu. The friendly match in the United States should be used to give other players a chance; particularly, Dominic Oduro, who plays his football in America.
Ghana has abundant football talents. The problems are the coaches’ selection of personnel and formation we play. Sometimes to get ahead in life, it is who you know and not what you know. In Ghana football circles nowadays, I believe that to get a chance with the Black Stars, it is perhaps who you pay and not how good you are!!
A lot of players are waiting, but their chances are blocked by the power that be. When Eric Bekoe was scoring goals consistently, no one gave him a chance to honor Ghana and enhance his career. While other players are dreaming and praying to be Black Stars, those who have their chance like Gyan are threatening the nation to quit. As the French will say, au revoir!!
Take a look at our wingers. Ghana has natural wingers in Quincy Owusu Abayie and Derek Asamoah, yet we go to a tournament and play Samuel Inkoom on the wing. Our offensive output is so anemic that opposition’s defense is not afraid of our forwards. We no longer select players who are a threat to score. Unlike Inkoom, Quincy Owusu Abayie and Derek Asamoah could have added some offensive spark to the team during 2012 AFCON.
In 2006 World Cup, Ghana could have scored Czech Republic a basket of goals due to the chances created. The Stars played 4-4-2 formation and the wings, offensive midfielders and strikers were all goal scoring threats. Now the coach plays Inkoom on the wing, no goal scoring threat. In addition, Kwadwo Asamoah and Dede Ayew do not score goals often to help complement Asamoah Gyan. The Black Stars need new personnel. Ghana should return to 4-4-2 formation as the team played in 2006 World Cup and 2008 AFCON.
The coach should give players who played in the 2012 AFCON a rest with exception of Adam Kwarasey and select the following fresh talents for the upcoming Chile match in Philadelphia:
Line-up: Adam Kwarasey, Jerry Vandam, Baba Rahman, Awal Mohammed, Jerry Akaminko, Afriyie Acquah, Amidu Salifu, Quincy Owusu Abayie, William Owusu, Emmanuel Baffour and Dominic Oduro in a 4-4-2 formation.
Reserves Players: Ismeal Yartey, Rabiu Mohammed, John Kuffour, Daniel Adjei, Jeffrey Schlupp, Boakye Yiadom, Emmanuel Clottey, Isaac Coffie, Moussa Narry, Bernard Kumordji, Daniel Opare, Jonathan Quartey, Adomah and Derek Asamoah.
Give other footballers the chance to honor the nation. Playing as a Black Star is an honor and not a right. Plavi and GFA, Give other players the chance to be Black Stars!!
Good luck to the Black Stars next time around!!
