Commentary

Black Stars chances at World Cup Qatar 2022

By Ken Bediako, Veteran Sports Journalist

As soon as the draw for the Qatar World Cup put Ghana alongside Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea, sport pundits believed that it would be easy for Ghana to sail through. I admire the current crop of the Black Stars who are full of promise but it would be advisable to manage our expectations so we do not put unnecessary pressure on the team. These youngsters have really proved the future is bright for Ghana football but they know all experts on social media and the vociferous analysts on radio and television would do well to leave the moulding of the squad to the technicians of football.

Coach Otto Addo and his technical team have shown in this short period that they have the capacity to present a good team and must be given the space to operate. In my opinion, there are far too many experts for the good of the game in this country. Ghanaians should remember that team building is no child’s play and football is a mass supporting game and a passionate one so armchair critics must not be allowed to destroy good efforts by coaches to pick players on merit. All serious players want to pair with the best to achieve success and that is perhaps the reason skipper Thomas Partey and his colleagues will be happy to get along with the best.

That explains why Wayne Rooney for instance was at his peak when Ronaldo joined him at Manchester United in the English premier league. He enjoyed the partnership to the hilt and did not toil in vain. National team handlers also loathe players with bad influence so Eric Cantona with all his excellent skills was axed from the French squad in the 1998 World Cup. In our quest to build a formidable squad for Qatar, those ill-informed self-styled serial sports callers must not be encouraged to display their ignorance about team selection.

The World Cup is several months away and there is no guarantee that all the players who qualified the various countries would be in Qatar. Nature is such that a player could dip in form within a short period even in camp. In Libya 1982, John Baker was the Black Stars top goalie but in the final brush up for the tournament he suddenly lost his poise. Incidentally, second choice Robert Carr also panicked leaving third choice Owusu Mensah to carry the burden. He performed creditably saving two penalties in the shoot-out against Libya to win the cup for Ghana. Many people are ignorant about what happens in camp. As a sports journalist, I have had the privilege of mixing with generations of the Black Stars group since the days of Aggrey Fynn, Edward Acquah, Addo Odametey era in the early sixties, Osei Kofi, Frank Odoi, John Naawu era in the late sixties. Kwasi Owusu, Sunday Ibrahim, Malik Jabir, Robert Mensah group in the early seventies. Opoku Afriyie, Razak, Awuley Quaye era in the late seventies.

Opoku Nti and Co in the 80s and Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah group in the 90s this time when I was a member of the Black Stars management committee. I can tell you their friendship in camp reflects on the field of play. There may be a few hidden petty squabbling though. It’s not going to be a sight-seeing venture in Qatar. It’s serious business and we need to present our best. Incidentally, as if ordained, the Black Stars have the opportunity to face their nemesis Uruguay who robbed us of victory in 2010 when sadly VAR was not in vogue How I wish it were in athletics where even a gold medal winner could be stripped of his medal if found guilty of an offence long after the presentation Remember Canadian sprinter. Ben Johnson of 1988 Seoul Olympics infamy? With the advent of VAR, Uruguay should be stripped of their semi-final record. No guilty offence should be sacrosanct.

With the support of a few friends, I would like to lead a crusade to allow the Black Stars handlers the free hand to complete their assignment of making the Black Stars shine once more in the World Cup like they did in 2010 and erase the disappointing spectacle of Brazil 2014 when millions of dollars was flown to a dispirited Black Stars fighting with team officials over money. Cheers everybody and keep loving Sports.