Growing up in my chosen profession as a broadcast journalist, I made lots of mistakes. Mistakes that were very professional. And so I accepted them as a part of the Curvey sojourn in the field of journalism. The fourth estate of the realm.
From the newsroom, I made mistakes on choice of leads for stories applying the "5Ws and the H". From programs at Kapital Radio I made mistakes regarding programming debates. From hosting and presentation of major talk shows on sports, politics, economy, social, health, education etc, I made mistakes on "content". I learnt and still learning. But one mistake I vividly still do recollect is on sports commentary. Commentaries of football matches were a passion and I tried to give off my best anytime I had the opportunity. The passion and emotions that come with football commentaries on radio can carry one away. Especially if one was that that passionate. The mistake I made effectively brought a player's career to a virtual abrupt end. It was a game between El-Mary of Egypt and Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC in Port Said. A game Kotoko did everything there was to do to win. The chances streamed in which gave Kotoko hope after hope as the game progressed that at least the club could win. But that was not to be as one lead striker energized in blasting one seeming easier to miss than to score chances as they came the way of Kotoko.
I got carried away, momentarily forgot I was to do a professional job. My avowed childhood support for Kotoko took centre stage as I descended on the player. In the end I pitched him against the funs back home here in Ghana. The game was not live, I was the only commentator and so what I reported was swallowed. The star player had become a bad player thanks to my lack of professionalism. It's a long story from thence. Am making a point.
The point in tandem with the performance of the Black Stars performance against the USA yesterday. I sincerely have my worries but guided by my experience in Paort Said in 1999, am restraint from hitting hard. Otherwise why did Opare play ahead of Harrison Afful? Why did Jordan Ayew and Christian Atsu start ahead of KP Boateng, Michael Essien and Agyemang Badu? Why was Kwadwo Asamoah played out of position? What was the reason for Adomah coming onto the pitch when we needed business minded players to salvage Ghana? Ok, so the Vice President, H.E Amissah was at the stadium? Ok, so NDC national organizer is the head of the Black Stars Mamagement committee? Ok, so all the former coaches, back room staff, technical team who are in Brazil on the ticket of the common Ghanaian tax payer who can't get 3square meals day and saddled with persistent lights out in the face of the free fall of the cedi, couldn't read between the lines that we didn't have the best 11 to face wounded lion, USA? Ah, so this is the justification for all the millions of American dollars invested in the team? So the players and officials ate from the $30,000 allocation for local dish in Brazil before the game? So these players and the officials took $75,000 appearance fee to play this game? Ah Ghana paaa!!! I have spent about 100 minutes watching the game again at the reception of Toyota Ghana here in Kumasi where am servicing my car. Hmmmmmmm. Nana Kwaku Agyemang made my day this morning on the JoySMS. I don't get it. Stay here for part II.
Credit: Listowell Yesu Bukarson, Bukarson Reports.
