"We have fought to victory" - Coach

Kumasi, June 21, GNA - "We promised to fight to victory and with the support of all, the boys have done that", these were the words of the Black Stars Coach, Professor Mariano Barreto after the Stars whipped their South African counterparts, Bafana Bafana 3-0 in the titanic African Group Two World Cup qualifier at the Kumasi Sports stadium on Sunday.

The coach who waved to the fans and officials at the VIP stand after the Senegalese referee had whistled for the end of the match, looked satisfied with the scores and felt it was a good game with the players playing their hearts out.

Adding his voice to the stars victory, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) said, "The Jinx of South Africa is broken and I'm calling Africa, Ghana here we come". Unlike, the jubilations of the Ghanaian Coach and GFA boss over the victory, the South African Coach, Mr Stuart Baxtor said they lost the match because the team played without some of their key players. This he said affected their style of play adding, "We hope to make amends".

It was a match in which the Black Stars sought revenue to stem the chain of defeat it had suffered at the hands of South Africa and prove to the world that Ghana is now a force to reckon with.

South African dominance over Ghana started in 1966 when they beat Ghana 3-0 in a semi final match in a Cup of Nations Competition hosted by Ghana and again beat Ghana 1-0 in the quarter-finals of CAN 2000 in Kumasi jointly hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.

With revenge as their mission, the Stars played straight into action and put South Africa under pressure but Baffour Gyan hit the side netting in the early exchanges and it therefore came as no surprise when Sulley Muntari fetched the leader in 13th minute.

The Stars from then on took control of the game and scored two goal in the 56th and 78th minutes respectively through Skipper Stephen Appiah who played a great game.