Soccer fans in Ghana disappointed at Black Stars' defeat

Ghana's soccer fans have disappointed at the performance of their national soccer team, popularly known as Black Stars, who were defeated by the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Kathlego Mphela put the Bafana Bafana ahead in the 41st minute to cap a great first half performance which saw the Black Stars chasing their shadows for the most part.

The game was the first since Ghana exited the World Cup held in South Africa at the quarterfinal stages.

The match at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg also served as a limbering up for both sides ahead of the start of qualifying for the 2012 African Nations Cup in September.

For the entire duration of the game, the closest the Black Stars came to scoring was a straight shot by Asamoah Gyan in the second half which was saved.

Though Ghana played with virtually a second string side made up of a blend of a handful experienced and young players, soccer fans appeared not enthused by the performance of the team.

Some fans, who spoke to Xinhua, said the team was a pale shadow of itself without the usual coordination and flair that differentiates the stars from the rest of the teams on the continent.

"We cannot win laurels or even qualify for the Nations Cup in 2012 if we continue to play like an ordinary side without vigor," a local fan said.

Attah Fynn, sports analyst, said though the stars were streets ahead of their opponents, they failed to produce any exceptional amperage of excitement during the entire period the match lasted.

"I would advocate for the recruitment of young talented goal poachers to augment the squad so that we can poke home chances when they come our way at the gate," he said.

Some called for the sack of the head coach, Milovan Rajevac, and his entire assistants for "disgracing the country".

Black Stars goalkeeper Richard Kingson twice had to come off his line to block goal-bound efforts by Mphela before the Bafana Bafana striker finally struck the back of the net three minutes before recess.

The South Africans were impressive throughout and should have won by a higher margin.

Even though the Stars lifted up their game a great deal in the second half, they created next to nothing.

However, the results were favorable for new South African coach Pitso Mosimane.

The Ghanaian coach said he used the game to test the readiness of young new players to fit into the boots of senior players such as skipper Stephen Appiah, John Mensah, Matthew Amoah, Richard Kingson, Suley Muntari and Hans Adu Sarpei.

Some of the new players who were tested include Cofie Bekoe, Bernard Kumordzi, Ransford Osei, Yaw Antwi and Bright Addae.

Ghana is scheduled to begin the African Nations Cup qualifying campaign away to Swaziland earlier in September.