In 2009, nobody expected Ghana to
reach far in the World Youth Championships, but the team lead by the son of a
maestro named Andre Dede Ayew made history leading Africa and Ghana to win the
World Youth Cup for the first time.
They broke the records of 1993 in
Australia under Coach Osam Doudu and 2001 in Argentina under Coach Emmanuel
Afranie, when Ghana reached the finals of the World Youth Championships, but
could not win the trophy at stake.
Coach Silas Tetteh Tsevi did the
magic in 2009 when he led the young boys from Ghana to achieve what has eluded
Africa for many years. He was inspired by a motivating leader of delegation in
the late Jordan Anagblah and a committed team of talented and skillful players
who were ready to die for Africa and Ghana.
So it was not by mistake that
Dominic Adiyiah’s prayers were answered and he found the net most than all the
players who participated in 2009, to win the golden boots and the golden ball.
Andre Ayew, the skipper of the team
showed his leadership qualities and that also contributed to Ghana’s success.
When the going got tough, he provided the goals and win for Ghana.
In 2001, the Black Satllites had
great stars, but Argentina had the home advantage and the won the tournament.
They are the only nation to have won the Championship seven times, after Brazil
who have won five times.
This year, 2013, Argentina and
Brazil are not participating in the final which has made the finals very
interesting, and teams from Spain who have won the Championship once could be
dangerous.
Spain beat Ghana in a tight game
during the first round, and they can qualify for the final for a second
showdown.
But Ghana has to beat Chile on
Sunday before they face either France or Uzbekistan at the Semifinal and then
go for the ultimate.
The Ghana team of 2013 may not have
the big names of Dede Ayew, Ransford Osei, David Addy, Dominic Adiyiah,
Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, Gladstone Awako and others of 2009 or the dreaded
Essien, John Mensah, Sulley Muntari and others in 2001, or the star studded
team of Sammy Osei Kufour, Daniel Addo, Yaw Preko, Mohammed Gargo, and Nii Odartey
Lamptey in 1993, but they possess at least the fighting spirit and it was
evident in their game against France when they pulled a late goal and against
Portugal, regarded as a favourite when they came back from 2-1 to win 3-2,
after taking the lead.
With unsung players like Clifford
Aboagye, Richmond Nketia, Richard Boakye Yiadom, Kennedy Ashia, Emmunuel Asifuah,
Seidu Salifu, Moses Odjer, Baba Rahman, Michael Anaba, goalkeeper Eric Antwi
and captain Lawrence Lartey, the 2013 Black Satellites can shock everybody to
reach the grand finale.
Much was not expected from them
after they placed third in Group A, where there were paired against countries
like France, Spain and the United States of America, but they have survived as
one of the best third placed teams and are steadily on the route to glory.
Ghana joined Spain, France, Chile,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Paraguay and Korea to make it to the last eight in the
competition. Their next win propels them to the medal zone and anything can
happen so the Black Satellites must play their legs, heads and hearts to enjoy
their bonuses.
At the last Sports Writers
Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards held in Accra, the Minister of Youth and
Sports, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah prayed and invoked the spirits of all the
dead leaders of the nation to back the Black Satellites to beat the world
again.
His powerful prayers, improved
tactics and techniques of the coaches, massive support from the Ghanaian fans
and the focus as well as the aim of the players to win the three remaining
matches to the cup should be the motivation for Ghana to grab gold at World
Youth Football for the second time.
After all, the Ghana national Under
17 had won the World Cup twice in 1991 and 1995, placed second twice in 1993
and 1997 and placed third once in 1999. If the last ten years had not been well
for the juveniles, it could be well for the youth and the seniors, that is why
the Black Stars can make it to the World Cup in 2006, 2010 and even go on to
2014.
Indeed Ghana is blessed with
football talents and it is never a mistake that Ghana is often among the world
best and can even beat almighty Brazil, when it matters most. Ghana has
produced countless of super stars in football.
The Black Satellites are capable of
beating Chile at the quarter final, France at the semifinal and meet who ever
at the finale. It could be Spain or Paraguay, but Ghana is capable.
Turkey 2013 World Youth Cup is minus
seven times winners, Argentina and five times champions Brazil, so Africa’s
hope remains only in Ghana, the nation that makes the continent proud.
Coach Silas Tetteh can make history
again. He has seen it before, so he knows the ways and means. If 2011 was not
the ideal time, may be 2013 could be the time for Ghana to rule the world of
youth football again.
