The senior National Team, the Black Stars yesterday made all Ghanaians proud with a sterling performance against the Carthage Eagles of Mali in the World Cup Qualifier at the Salif Keita Stadium in Bamako, Mali. Nobody would doubt the fact that, in today’s football world, Mali has a good pedigree and seem to rub shoulders with the soccer bigwigs on the African continent, if not the world.
Seidu Keita of Barcelona, Mamadou Diarra of real Madrid and Frederick Kamoute of Sevilla, all plying their soccer trade in Spain are some Malian big hitters whose names would obviously send shivers down the spine of any opposition. It was not surprising therefore that, Black Stars Coach, Milovan Rajevac appealed for caution and exhibited modesty in his pre-match comments because of the kind of opposition on offer.
Entering the Lions den obviously takes some courage and effort. And to some commentators, and particularly the Malian’s master mind, Coach Steven Keshie, the stars were long dead even before entering Bamako. Talk, they say is cheap but walking the talk is the hardest. Who could have given the Black Stars any chance of putting the Malians to the sword at their own backyard.
According to the form book and the squadson offer, the eagles seemed ahead of the stars man-for-man. At the end of the 90 minutes duration however, the Ghanaians tore all the pre match predictions and form book to shreds. What seemed Herculean probably turned out to be a Child's play.
The thousands of Malian fans who besieged the Salif Keita Stadium could not believe what had hit them. In front of their very own eyes, their assembled array of stars was mesmerized, outfought, outthought and out manoeuvred. Of course, the Black Stars themselves are no mince meat in world and African soccer Circles. Credit must definitely go to the boys, but the stars might have done something right to enable the Malians succumb to their might in yesterday’s epic battle.
Our next stop is Omdurman in Sudan where the Black stars are expected to play a team which would probably turn out to be the whipping boys of Group “B”. Sudan should not pose any serious threat to the Stars’ forward march to South Africa next year. But we must hasten to signal the stars against throwing all caution to the wind. Complacency is a word that has cost many in their lifetime.
We will entreat the Stars and their handlers to quickly delete it from their catalogue of vocabularies. At worst, we should go to Sudan with strong determination to edge out all the three points at stake. This certainly could be the surest bet in putting the stars in a good stead to qualifying for Next Year’s global diadem. And while we are at it, let’s not forget that, the Stars were missing key players in yesterday’s match. Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan and Laryea Kingston were sidelined with injuries. Their inclusion in the next game in Sudan should bolster the squad.
Comments by some pundits that the exclusion of these players had not affected the stars and so should be consigned for the next match would not help anybody. It should be made clear that, in order to successfully negotiate our qualification for the football mundial, all hands and legs would be needed.
Injuries are part of football, and any of the current squad members could sustain injury, thereby necessitating a call – up to those who did not make the Mali trip. Therefore, comments like who should be called for Sudan and who should stay at home are neither here nor there.
All must be on board if everyone is fit and kicking. Elimination by rough tactics would not do anybody any good. The Stars have so far delivered the goods and only positive comments at this moment could be the launch pad for our success now and beyond. As the Stars make their triumphant entry home, let us all say Ayekoo to them and wish them luck in the upcoming assignments.
by EDMOND N. TETTEH
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