Five days hence, the 2008 continental football fiesta will kick off whether we like it or not.
The only thing that can stop the tournament from responding to the starter?s gun, will be the second coming of Christ.
And since the Good Lord will not want to disrupt the tournament, I am sure that even if he intends coming very soon, it will be after Ghana has lifted the cup for the fifth time.
Say a big AMEN to that.
For the next three+ weeks, there is no denying the fact that almost every patriotic Ghanaian will look up to the, red, gold and green colours with the black star in the middle, and never cease praying for God to bless our homeland Ghana.
If there are persons who must be feeling the heat very much, it is coach Claude Leroy and his colleagues on the technical side of the divide, Kwesi Nyantekyi and his colleagues who manage the team, and John Mensah and his colleagues who will be the ones defending the colours of the nation.
Especially because we are hosting the tourney, there is going to be immense pressure on the team as the expectation is very high.
There are some people who think that the nation has not put its best foot forward by way of player selection and preparation but it is too late to want to belabour that point.
What is important now, is to throw our weight fully behind the team and do all that we can to support their onward march. Forward ever, backward never.
It certainly is not going to be a low hill to climb, but nothing is impossible to achieve once we set our minds to it.
So far, everything seems to be going on well in terms of player motivation and the level of camaraderie amongst the players.
I heard that there was a little tiff between Laryea Kinston and Dede Ayew but from the look of things, the hatchet has been long buried and all is well.
With Stephen Appiah staying away from the pitch, the onus lies on John Mensah to lead his boys to make us proud.
Ghana was the first nation to win the cup four times but we have allowed others to pass us by.
The Cup of Nation?s tourney has certainly not been fair to Stephen Appiah.
On the eve of the 2002 tourney he picked up an injury; we did not make it to the 2004 finals; he had a bad outing at the 2006 tourney; and in 2008, injury has decided to deal him another blow.
It must be a horrifying moment for the inspirational captain of the Black Stars.
What Stephen?s spirit will not be able to do on the field, it is hoped that the dressing room and training sessions will make room for it.
The die is cast and I am going to wear my patriotic garb and support the Black Stars to the hilt.
I hope that all Ghanaians will join in giving the Stars the best in terms of support.
However, since wishes are not horses, let?s not be quick to butcher them if they don?t meet our expectation in terms of lifting the trophy. Indeed, they may not meet our expectation in terms of the level to which they progress.
Whichever way the wind blows, John Mensah and his colleagues will remain my stars.
People of Ghana, let?s keep hope alive for we can make it.
