Africa has slim chance of winning South Africa 2010 World Cup

Kumasi, Oct. 8, GNA - Dogo Moro, one of the pioneer players of the senior national team, the Black Stars has expressed pessimism about Africa's chances of lifting the 2010 MTN FIFA World Cup, despite hosting of the prestigious tournament in the continent.

He said after closely watching the qualifying series, he has been left in no doubt that the players are yet to overcome the tactical indiscipline, loss of concentration and poor shooting, which had been the bane of African countries since the inception of the competition in 1930.

The farthest that the Continent had gone in the annals of the World Cup is the quarter final stage, a feat shared by Cameroon and Senegal. Nigeria and Ghana managed to reach the one-sixteenth stage in 1990 and 2006, respectively.

Dogo Moro, 74, who was sharing his thoughts with the GNA Sports in Kumasi on Thursday, said it was time the African game was developed, independent of interference by government.

Superstition, official corruption and greed as well as threats and insults of players for scrappy performance must be taken out of the sport.

The celebrated former Black Stars and Kumasi Asante Kokoko defender said it is important a more scientific approach is adopted to raise the game of football at higher levels in Africa.

He however praised the current players of the senior national team for Ghana's enviable achievement as the first nation on the continent to secure a ticket to the South Africa 2010.

Dogo Moro, however, cautioned against complacency and urged the players to step up their training and to hold high the flag of Ghana at that big stage.

"I expect the technical team to work on the psyche of the players to overcome inferiority complex as they meet more superior teams". Dogo Moro eulogized the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah for laying a solid foundation for the development of Ghana football. "The first President's constant motivation of the national players and the zeal to see Ghana succeed at all levels of football ensured victory for the Senior National Team in the 1963 and 1965 African Cup competitions." He urged the Government to see to the improvement of football facilities in the country. 08 Oct. 09