The Fall of the Black Meteors

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OBIDEEABA, BELGIUM 12 years ago

U have a point but the problem is will the authorities in football accept ur case.

U have a point but the problem is will the authorities in football accept ur case.
Slimzay **The Unshakable Shaker** 12 years ago

I disagree, he doesn't have any point in this. Today's football with game strategies and formation changes is not the same like yesterday's football mapping. This is the 21 century you talking about. The game is a little fast ...
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I disagree, he doesn't have any point in this. Today's football with game strategies and formation changes is not the same like yesterday's football mapping. This is the 21 century you talking about. The game is a little faster than it was previously. The high ball passes invented years ago and was adapted by the Germans is no more. Now the sport is played on a turf and it stays on it for most part.

If our U-23 national team has not been functioning properly, it wasn't the cause of players graduating to the Black Stars from the Satellites. Remember, the players whom you want to play for the U-23 but playing for the Black Stars, nothing stops them from coming back to play for the U-23 when they are needed. For the fact that they play for the Black Stars doesn't increase their age of preventing them to play for the U-23 team. They get into the Black Stars from the U-20 to gain more experience other U-23 national team players may not get. Therefore jumping to he Black Stars straight from the U-20 squads is rather beneficial.

I read the phrase, "big boys, tall and bulky" for more than three times if I'm not mistaken as if football is played with think tall players now as in before. The fact of the matter is it isn't. How many players are in the Spanish National Teams could be classified as tall and bulky? On the other hand, how many trophies have they won recently counting from the last six years? This alone should tell us that when football was played with men from the army, think tall, those days are along over due. The Confederation Cup Tournament that ended, if it wasn't Fred, Brazil's #9, who else among that team is think tall with the exception of Dante who played only 45 minutes or so in the whole tournament?

Therefore, Mr. E.K Kissi, kindly get your facts right for this is not the reason the Ghana U-23 national team has not been doing well. Let me go you a clue. Go through the records of our U-23 squads, look at the coaches who handled them and the solution will right there be in front of you.

Coaches problems have bringing our U-23 national teams down. It was when the team was given to the legendary Coach Atequafeo the team began to function a little. After we were eliminated by Nigeria, I forgot the year but recall the players, Asamoah Gyan, Prince Tegoe, Michael Helegbe, Kumodzi and the rest, the team was given to a different coach who couldn't cut a paper with a chain saw. Was that the fault of the players migrating to the Black Stars? I don't think so!

Get your facts ready and reply me, Mr. Kissi for the cause of the problem given doesn't hold water. It is not true! Do research and change your article.
Slimzay **The Unshakable Shaker** 12 years ago

Sorry for errors. Couldn't have the time to double check.

Sorry for errors. Couldn't have the time to double check.
OSEI TAWIAH 12 years ago

So this guy means that players will grow physically if only they pass through the Black Meteors. What are the Meteors going to feed them with? How about Dede Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah and Agyeman Badu? Are they tall and bulky. How ...
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So this guy means that players will grow physically if only they pass through the Black Meteors. What are the Meteors going to feed them with? How about Dede Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah and Agyeman Badu? Are they tall and bulky. How did they fare so well in the international arena. And who says Inkoom is not good. For your information Mr Kissi, not all positions require height and size. Though some positions require the use of height and size, others require speed and skills, this is why it's called a team. The French team won the U20 FIFA cup not only because of their size, but they were well organized and skillful.
Nana_Bee 12 years ago

You are darn right, my friend. It's not about size, rather it's about skill set and talent. Ask this man, how tall and bulky is Messi?

You are darn right, my friend. It's not about size, rather it's about skill set and talent. Ask this man, how tall and bulky is Messi?
Dadakai 12 years ago

You have said your mind bro and i strongly believe you have a point here,those in authority we please urge you to give this article a second thought.It's a trend from 17,20,23 before the senior team.

You have said your mind bro and i strongly believe you have a point here,those in authority we please urge you to give this article a second thought.It's a trend from 17,20,23 before the senior team.
OYaw, USA 12 years ago

Please raise the awareness of the Ghanaian football lovers and the authorities. Players like the Ayews and such likes, would not feel big in their shoes to the extent of jumping the queue for captaincy.

Please raise the awareness of the Ghanaian football lovers and the authorities. Players like the Ayews and such likes, would not feel big in their shoes to the extent of jumping the queue for captaincy.
pk 12 years ago

Good article but let's not forget the rare talent that can bypass the tier system. Abedi Pele is an example. A team is made up of individuals performing different roles. Building a good team simply means finding the best indi ...
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Good article but let's not forget the rare talent that can bypass the tier system. Abedi Pele is an example. A team is made up of individuals performing different roles. Building a good team simply means finding the best individual for a particular role regardless of size. Nutritionists, dietitians and physiotherapists will then help to develop the physical aspects.
OSEI TAWIAH 12 years ago

Why should we have players like Laryea Kingston playing the Black Stars instead of Dede Ayew or Kwadwo Asamoah?

Why should we have players like Laryea Kingston playing the Black Stars instead of Dede Ayew or Kwadwo Asamoah?
GHFUO, BE SERIOUS NOT PRIDEFUL! 12 years ago

GIVE THE U17 WMNS TO OPEELE. GET RID OF THAT MUCHRUMUDOO, PREGNANT GUY FABIAN. HE EATS HIS PLAYERS.....GIVE U20 TO KONADU N DIDI DRAMANI MUST TAKE OVER THE METEORS

GIVE THE U17 WMNS TO OPEELE. GET RID OF THAT MUCHRUMUDOO, PREGNANT GUY FABIAN. HE EATS HIS PLAYERS.....GIVE U20 TO KONADU N DIDI DRAMANI MUST TAKE OVER THE METEORS

OSEI TAWIAH 12 years ago

The Black Meteors is a waste of time, space, resources and energy. Why should we have 4 National Men's teams in Ghana? At age 21 a person is fully grown and should be able to do anything. If they can't then it is a bit too la ...
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The Black Meteors is a waste of time, space, resources and energy. Why should we have 4 National Men's teams in Ghana? At age 21 a person is fully grown and should be able to do anything. If they can't then it is a bit too late for any grooming. Typical Ghanaians are not physically tall and bulky but we have excelled in many tournaments for years. Football is not necessarily about size. Even the Japanese women's team won the World Cup.
Kofi Yankey 12 years ago

You have U17, U20, U23 and Black Stars. Your ultimate goal is success for the Black Stars. How do you do that? I will focus on the U17 because identifying talent early is important. I will also focus on the U20 because a socc ...
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You have U17, U20, U23 and Black Stars. Your ultimate goal is success for the Black Stars. How do you do that? I will focus on the U17 because identifying talent early is important. I will also focus on the U20 because a soccer player should be grown and matured by 20 years. The GFA should know within Ghana all the talented and potential Black Stars players by the time they are 20 years old. The advantage to the players is that 20 years is about the best age the European teams want to sign the players. So the purpose of the U23 team is nothing but the Olympics, which comes every 4 years. If a player at 20 is good to play for a club in Europe then he should be good enough to be in the Black Stars. The same player can also play for the Black Meteors. It does not make sense to say that a player is not 23 so he can't play for the Black Stars. Polo, Razak and Abedi were all under 20 when they played for the Black Stars. The were also not the biggest players. Soccer is more about talent and skill than physical size.
GORDON YEBOAH,USA 12 years ago

If I can side with u,then of course concerntrate on the fitness level but not necessarily tall or taller.a player can be tall,if that same player is not physically fit then it worths nothing.I don't understand the point u ...
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If I can side with u,then of course concerntrate on the fitness level but not necessarily tall or taller.a player can be tall,if that same player is not physically fit then it worths nothing.I don't understand the point u are making about Samuel inkoom because prince tagoe is taller than inkoom but we saw in SA 2010 inkoom was performing than tagoe.messi, bebeto,Roberto Carlos are all short but they play more than funakoshi. Please clarify your point well about your tallness.
Kojo Agatebe, Oregon 12 years ago

Well said. Players should be matured by age 20. Besides, I don't think people grow any much taller after 20 years of age. Maybe, they may need to bulk up a little, but then, in modern soccer, strengh or physical training is m ...
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Well said. Players should be matured by age 20. Besides, I don't think people grow any much taller after 20 years of age. Maybe, they may need to bulk up a little, but then, in modern soccer, strengh or physical training is mandatory part of routine training at all level. At age 20. what you see is what you get.

U-23 is nothing more than a maximum, not a minimum, age limit for the Olympics. I believe you can participate even if you are 15 years old.

You are also right in your observation that 20 years is the best age to make it to Europe. In these days, very few European clubs would want to invest in a 24-year old Ghanaian player for obvious reason.
NT 12 years ago

Do we have any competitive football for the under 23 at a regional or continental level in Africa? It seems to me we only have under 17 and under 20 teams these days in Africa. Probably this is the reason why our Black Meteo ...
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Do we have any competitive football for the under 23 at a regional or continental level in Africa? It seems to me we only have under 17 and under 20 teams these days in Africa. Probably this is the reason why our Black Meteors died a natural death. Anyway, I am not too sure about this... Just thinking aloud.
Eben kug 12 years ago

I believe young players can get involve with the B.stars and still play for the meteors, the B stars gives them confidence and some experience from the senior players, but make them understand that they have the meteors to fi ...
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I believe young players can get involve with the B.stars and still play for the meteors, the B stars gives them confidence and some experience from the senior players, but make them understand that they have the meteors to finish with before they are fully integrated into the B. Stars, with that they will be humble as they know they have a lot to prove to gain full admission into the senior side. One or two exceptional ones can should be ok for full B. Stars side
Akwasi 12 years ago

You are genius, Kissi.

You are genius, Kissi.
samjones kay 12 years ago

THAT'S WHAT I CALL PROGRESSIVE PROGRESSION. GROWING WELL IN LINE WITH YOUR AGE. MATURING IN STATURE AND IN WISDOM. I BELIEVE THIS PRINCIPLE WILL SOLVE GHANA'S FOOTBALL WOES.
...IS ANYONE LISTENING ????

THAT'S WHAT I CALL PROGRESSIVE PROGRESSION. GROWING WELL IN LINE WITH YOUR AGE. MATURING IN STATURE AND IN WISDOM. I BELIEVE THIS PRINCIPLE WILL SOLVE GHANA'S FOOTBALL WOES.
...IS ANYONE LISTENING ????
KAY 12 years ago

I think you nailed it right in the head. I only wish those who move the GFA with their decisions will read this and amend her ways accordingly.
Bravo

I think you nailed it right in the head. I only wish those who move the GFA with their decisions will read this and amend her ways accordingly.
Bravo
Slimzay **The Unshakable Shaker** 12 years ago

Are you certain for that?

Are you certain for that?

Sports Guru 12 years ago

Can these under 20 guys grow any taller?Maybe bulkier.Anyway great piece.Missing the Meteors of Kwame Ayew fame.

Can these under 20 guys grow any taller?Maybe bulkier.Anyway great piece.Missing the Meteors of Kwame Ayew fame.
Slimzay **The Unshakable Shaker** 12 years ago

Ask again, Bro!

Ask again, Bro!
CAPTAIN DERRAILE 12 years ago

MOSES ODJER IS 16 YEARS HEHEHEHEH, MASSA THESE PLAYERS ARE MATURED ALREADY OOOOOOO, SOME OF THEM ARE MARRIED WITH KIDS. LET ME TELL YOU ONE FACT...OUR LEADERS KNOWS THAT THESE SO CALL U20 ARE IN REALITY BETWEEN 25 AND 35 YEAR ...
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MOSES ODJER IS 16 YEARS HEHEHEHEH, MASSA THESE PLAYERS ARE MATURED ALREADY OOOOOOO, SOME OF THEM ARE MARRIED WITH KIDS. LET ME TELL YOU ONE FACT...OUR LEADERS KNOWS THAT THESE SO CALL U20 ARE IN REALITY BETWEEN 25 AND 35 YEARS. DUE TO LACK OF OPPORTUNITY IN GHANA BEFORE A YOUNG MAN WILL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO U17 OR U20 HE WOULD BE BETWEEN 25 AND 30 YEARS. THEREFORE TO LEAVE THESE ULREADY GROWN PLAYERS TO MATURE, THEY WILL MATURE TO RETIRE.
Samuel Ashley 12 years ago

You have said it all. GFA, please do accept this piece of idea. Mind you, we are all working towards ONE GOAL!

You have said it all. GFA, please do accept this piece of idea. Mind you, we are all working towards ONE GOAL!
Matthew, New York 12 years ago

In fact, you have hit the nail. We need as country the U-23 team to be in place if we want to be regarded as one of the football nations. We rash in players to the senior national team, Black Stars too much. May God bless our ...
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In fact, you have hit the nail. We need as country the U-23 team to be in place if we want to be regarded as one of the football nations. We rash in players to the senior national team, Black Stars too much. May God bless our homeland Ghana and all those who manage our football.
Slimzay **The Unshakable Shaker** 12 years ago

There was no any nail to hit. Mr. Kissi hit the rock. Where is the research that supported his article? NONE!

The cause of our U-23 inability to improve lies with the coaches we appoint to take the teams.

There was no any nail to hit. Mr. Kissi hit the rock. Where is the research that supported his article? NONE!

The cause of our U-23 inability to improve lies with the coaches we appoint to take the teams.
Sir Kofi Mumui 12 years ago

IDIOT. Do not waste our minds with useless articles.

IDIOT. Do not waste our minds with useless articles.
Eben Kug 12 years ago

I believe young players can get involve with the B.stars and still play for the meteors, the B stars gives them confidence and some experience from the senior players, but make them understand that they have the meteors to fi ...
read full comment

I believe young players can get involve with the B.stars and still play for the meteors, the B stars gives them confidence and some experience from the senior players, but make them understand that they have the meteors to finish with before they are fully integrated into the B. Stars, with that they will be humble as they know they have a lot to prove to gain full admission into the senior side. One or two exceptional ones can should be ok for full B.
KWAKU, NEW YORK 12 years ago

Excellent piece, brother, these are the kind of articles Ghanaian sportswriters should write- constructive, not the divisive ones we see and not taking phrases off people's sentences and making wrong sensational headlines off ...
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Excellent piece, brother, these are the kind of articles Ghanaian sportswriters should write- constructive, not the divisive ones we see and not taking phrases off people's sentences and making wrong sensational headlines off them to cause public outcry against them.
RedGoldGreen 12 years ago

I know the guy who wrote the article. He is a Columbia University graduate and loves Ghana football too much. He writes these articles for fun. Akwasi, brilliant piece, keep it up bro!!

I know the guy who wrote the article. He is a Columbia University graduate and loves Ghana football too much. He writes these articles for fun. Akwasi, brilliant piece, keep it up bro!!

Victor A. Young 12 years ago

Bro. Kissi, I think you missed some points. The lack of well-built and bulky player in our national teams is as a result of the horrible moments that Ghana went through, from 1979 through to mid-2000. Now there seem to be imp ...
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Bro. Kissi, I think you missed some points. The lack of well-built and bulky player in our national teams is as a result of the horrible moments that Ghana went through, from 1979 through to mid-2000. Now there seem to be improvement; we're beginning to see birth of healthy babies who grow up to their fullest potential. The previously malnurished mothers can at least feed on healthy diets and also with the free meals served at schools, things have changed.

Gone are those days when there was "Rawlings Chain" around people's necks. That trend has been reversed by the introduction of NHIS free school feeding program among others.

Our only problem is the NDC govt which is killing all the economic gains that was achieved by ex-Prez. Kuffour's govt. They simply don't know what to do, but they won't tell the truth. Their story of Ghana's economy keep changing, depending who among Ghana's working force is makind demands. They said thing are not looking good when Doctors, Nurses and Teachers began asking for their salary increase. These days they're saying the economy is robust, when people have began crying out.

Hmmm! Bro. Kissi, it's not easy o! The economic situation is tough. Although nation can boast of talents in the game, when height is to topic, you cannot attribute that to players refusing to mature through the U-21 or Meteos ranking. It's malnutrition which causes our players not to mature in stature or height.
Kululu 12 years ago

God bless u my dear brother you've said it all thanks very much 4 this wise wisdom god bless and GFA chairman should look into this and put this article, wise idea on board god bless noble sons of Ghana with this wise and im ...
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God bless u my dear brother you've said it all thanks very much 4 this wise wisdom god bless and GFA chairman should look into this and put this article, wise idea on board god bless noble sons of Ghana with this wise and important issue once again god bless u this wise writer
Kululu. Battersea london 12 years ago

U said it all wise man

U said it all wise man
tommy 12 years ago

you are right

you are right
A. Suleimn 12 years ago

It's thought-provoking. The managers of Ghanaian football should rethink their ways.

It's thought-provoking. The managers of Ghanaian football should rethink their ways.
Mallam Asada 12 years ago

how many people in our football authority do think this way? it rather unfortunate that we do not hear about the Black Meteors again. thank you very much for this important thought and i hope our authorities will pay attentio ...
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how many people in our football authority do think this way? it rather unfortunate that we do not hear about the Black Meteors again. thank you very much for this important thought and i hope our authorities will pay attention to this view.
KOOPIA 12 years ago

The idea is good but it is not always possible b'cos meteors tournament is organized every four years. Meanwhile, U17, U20 and black stars tournaments are organized at two year intervals. So assuming U20 players play a tourna ...
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The idea is good but it is not always possible b'cos meteors tournament is organized every four years. Meanwhile, U17, U20 and black stars tournaments are organized at two year intervals. So assuming U20 players play a tournament, should they wait for fours time to play U23 before progressing to black stars? Neyman is 21years but emerged best player in confederation cup tournament recently organized for senior national teams.

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The Fall of the Black Meteors

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