BLACKSTARS FAREWELL GAME: ANALYSIS FROM THE STANDS

a section of tha fans at the stadium

Paa Kwesi and George have a heated argument before the game. It attracts a few guys around the yellow section of seats close to the ambulance.

Paa Kwesi: "Dauda will start in Brazil; we all know that, Kwarasey to me is not too confident".

"John Boye and Jonathan will almost certainly play together, though Akaminko may come in to help", he adds.

George is a bit high, if you know what I mean. He begins to rant all over the place in vernacular.

"You think Dauda can stand CR7's free kicks, and long shots,never,and as for Boye,just the step overs will leave him flatfooted, we stand no chance in Brazil" he says.

Me: "Are you guys even sure these players you're mentioning are going to make Appiah's 23-man squalee at all? “I was trying to get their thoughts on Appiah's selection headache.

Paa Kwesi: “Oh everyone knows who the regular customers are, perhaps Afriyie will be the new guy.He has been impressive for Parma, and if Appiah wants to be fair, he must go to Brazil,Essien can sit on the bench.".

Another guy,Sammy joins the discussion.

Sammy: "it's past six, what are these people waiting for, we did not come here for plenty talk ooo."

He appears disgusted by the shear waste of time with all the introductions and announcements bellowing from the Public Address systems.

The game begins after 6:30 and the flashlights I see from where I sit put together could power the whole country for a week. Everyone wants an experience to live with them, they have to tell a story someday.

Goooaaaaaallllll.........They all scream at Atsu's opener. It is a good goal from an acute angle, high into the roof of the net.

Paa Kwesi: "Exactly what we would do to Portugal and U.S.A in Brazil.Atsu is our Messi ".

I thought to myself,wow! These guys 'mean' the World Cup waaa.

George : "you people think Pepe will stand and watch you go past him to score,hwer...you're joking ."

“I have seen Pepe struggle against quick strikers this season, all he'll do is floor our player, and then we win a spot-kick." says Kweku who just joined.

the teams line up before the match

Who will take the spot kick if we are awarded one?

Some murmured baby jet, and quickly, Sammy began cataloging our set-piece specialists.

Sammy : "Oh, Wakasu,Muntari,Andre can all take the kicks, I’m sure Jet himself has changed his mind about it, he will play them if the chips are down."

The game had only begun; the guys have been impressed with Afriyie Acquah's performance. He looks so assured on the ball, and picks out the right passes.

Goooaalllllllll......Atsu scores again. This time from the rebound of Jordan's shot, which had been parried back into play by Dream team keeper Owu.

George: “These are the only goals they can score, the keeper must be blamed for this one,you don't parry the ball back into play, it is never done."

Sammy ,Paa Kwesi,Kweku all seem to agree with George on this one.

George thinks Jordan will not make Appiah's 23-man squad, but Paa Kwesi disagrees.

Paa Kwesi : " We have only two assured strikers in Gyan and Waris,and just these two can’t play all the games, certainly Jordan will go to Brazil."

Sammy:"Kevin Prince can play up the pitch; he was named as one of the forwards.

But I still think we need Jordan, it may well be his time, and he ended the season at Sochaux on the high scoring six goals."

Kweku's attempt to introduce Richmond Boakye-Yiadom's name into the discussion at this point is brushed aside.The guys do not think he has done enough to merit a call-up.

George lambasts him, and argues,: “Even at the world youth championship in Turkey, he was supposed to have led the team since he had some experience with the seniors, but what did he do? He flopped, so the World Cup is not his game as we speak."

Just when Kweku wanted to add his voice,

Gooooalllll..........Jordan Ayew scores after some good work down the wing by Albert Adomah.He beats his man and plays the cross into the center where Jordan side-foots home.

Paa Kwesi screamed, gooallll,just to say I told you so.

George : "And who is the guy in the 24 shirt,hey boy, what be your name," he shouts.

Not many of the guys know him, and not that they could be bothered. They have not been impressed with his game. I whispered his name is David Accam.

On the evidence of this, the dude should not go to Brazil, Paa Kwesi says.

Sammy : "Where are the senior players,?Gyan,Muntari,Andre,Asamoah and the rest? "

Kweku: " They might come in later, perhaps the coach wants to try the new lads. You can see many of the new guys playing now."

That, I thought was a solid point, however the big guys were going to come on at some point, nobody wants them to pick up knocks.

Gooallll...Atsu completes his hat trick, with a goal of the highest quality. A raking long ball over the top from midfield is taken on the chest by Atsu,in the area and the technique to allow the ball ran across his body, is particularly impressive, and he finishes past a hapless Owu....

There was no argument that Atsu is one our go-to guys for goals heading for the tournament. The guys concluded.

The passing sometimes was breath-taking, the dream team had not given up, and they kept playing.

George : " So these local guys can't challenge the Black Stars and give them pressure? We want to know if we can survive against the big-wigs".

Paa Kwesi is dissatisfied with George' s comment, and says,"Germany,Portugal and U.S.A are also analyzing us, they know what we can do, these days in football, you cannot underrate anybody, everyone can play the game, even Tahiti came for the Confederations cup and played against the big guys,Spain,Uruguay and co without fear."

[There was one more goal to come before the break.Middlesbrough winger, Albert Adomah provider of the second, takes an Atsu pass in his stride, nutmegs his marker, before scoring the team's fifth.Gooaalllll……]

Sammy thinks that goal was a good one.

"The Middleborough winger is a sure bet to make Brazil, he has had a good game capped off with that goal. He has not had a game which has left us completely blown away since his first black stars call up, but it's been good."

Paa Kwesi: "he was the top scorer for Middleborough he scored some 15 or so goals. He can be one of our goal getters don't you think?"

[Ref signals the end of the half,and as the players made for the tunnel,Castro ft Gyan's "Odo Pa" screamed out of the speakers,and the announcers called for the music to cease, remember the ban on drumming and noise-making in Accra???]

After recess the Dream team looked buoyed .They passed the ball better, created more chances, and gave substitute Fatau Dauda something to think about.

George: “So Fatau is going to the World Cup with this? Then CR7 will get a hattrick against Ghana ", he said this on the back of two rush clearances the keeper made while he came off his line. Only some poor finishing by the white guys kept the net unshaken.

Paa Kwesi who earlier seemed Dauda will start in Brazil is unconvinced at the keeper's performance.

" Yieyyy Fatau is rusty, his balls up field are poor, his decision to commit himself under less pressure is worrying. This is what you get when you don't play football for months.Fatau is always in suit in the stands looking on as Pirates play, but trust Appiah to play him, he trusts him better."

The guys did not hesitate to boo him anytime he had the ball.

Waris,Afful,Wakasu,Boye,Rabiu,were all on in the second half.

Boye and Afful are sure starters,Kweku intimates.

"Boye can be the leader at the back, he is showing it now, calling out instructions to his mates. As for Afful,he is one of our most assured and trusted. Can play at left or right back".

Not long after though,Schlup (who had an average game) came off, and Afful who started the second half at right back, switched to the left.

Kweku was spot on, with his thoughts.

At this point the game appeared a bit more competitive. The dream team upped their game, and was attacking the stars' area often.

Not too many of the guys like Opare.His coming on did not particularly attract any cheer, his first action was to head the ball into touch for a throw in, under absolutely no pressure, and you can imagine the reaction of the fans.

Sammy:"Rabiu has been great. He and Acquah are marshaling the midfield well.Waris is doing a lot of running up field but cannot get an opening to shoot."

Kweku: " Muntari must come on now, his long balls are needed. Maybe Gyan may not play this game."

[Oyiwa !!!!!!!!! Penalty awarded the dream team, for a handball in the area of the black Stars. 

[Dauda calls for the fans to cheer, but that did not stop the ball from hitting the back of the net.]

The rest of the game played out as waves of substitutions slowed things down.Muntari,Andre,Asamoah,and Gyan had all been brought on.

Not too much action until the dying minutes.Gyan was brought down a few yards off the penalty area.

[Up stepped Muntari,and beautifully placed the ball into the net.

Goooaaaallllllllll.....]

Paa Kwesi,Sammy,and Kweku believe if Muntari replicates some of this set-piece techniques at the mundial,it may get us a few goals.

[The game ends 6-1, and the fans enjoyed themselves. My friends are hoping Ghana makes it past the preliminary stages.]

They seem impressed with what they saw, except Fatau's situation which rightly so, has been the concern of many Ghanaian fans.

BUKOM BANKU ‘FLOORS’ AYITEY POWERS; CLAIMS BRAGGING RIGHTS

BY: Kingsley Komla Adom

Brima Kamoko, a.k.a Bukom Banku has thrashed Blonde-bald headed Ayitey Powers on judgement night, despite some below par commentary by one of two commentators on the night of the bout. The bout which traveled all twelve rounds saw lots of successful uppercut jabs from the banku camp as opposed to very lethargic defense and punch-blocking from the powers end, in a straightforward banku win.

bukom banku in celebratory mood

The much anticipated bout began late into the night at about 12:00 am, after series of undercard fights by boxers in the amateur division. Arguably the biggest fight in the history of Ghana, and very much publicized, it was expected to thrill fans at the Accra sports stadium on Thursday night.

Despite several challenges that plagued the bout, monetary issues, personal religious reasons and traditional impediments, the much-anticipated judgement night was here.

Many Ghanaians and boxing lovers thronged the stadium to witness the biggest fight yet. Not to be left out of the fun, former president H.E Jerry Rawlings and wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings,Accra mayor,Alfred Vanderpuye,Dancehall big papa,Samini and other high profile dignitaries were in attendance.

The pre-bout buzz had been characterized by jabs in the media between the two boxers, while Bukom banku promised a fourth round knockout,Ayittey Powers promised to finish Banku off before the twelfth round.

The bout began after a rather low key entry by both boxers, possibly adhering to the ban on noise-making by the GA traditional council.

Bukom banku was in the front foot in the opening rounds after landing some hefty upper cut jabs in the face of his opponent. Round after round, Banku successfully landed his punches in the face of powers, who appeared jaded by the fourth round.

Powers woke up in subsequent rounds but just could not defend his territory against the jabs banku was throwing at him, despite throwing a few weak punches into the side of Banku.Almost like Liverpool’s defense in the just ended premier league season, powers kept blocking poorly, allowing his opponent to land more successful jabs at him.

The two boxers appeared fatigued by the sixth round, epitomized by a ‘Powers’ slip while aiming a heavy blow at banku, to the cheer of the thousands of spectators in the stadium.

From then on, it became a routine exercise as Banku dominated until the last round. Just as the twelfth round was drawing to a close, Powers slipped again, and before he could call his god father, TB Joshua, he was on the canvas, dazing the while over.

Many knew the verdict of the bout before the three judges handed over their scorecards to the ring announcer, Nathaniel Attoh; that was how one-sided the bout was.

Ayittey Powers may not have lived up to his pre-bout hype and rant, but certainly it was a fight to watch as the battle for supremacy, and the bragging rights were at stake.

117-109,119-100 and 120-108 scores by the three judges, by a unanimous decision,Bukom Banku was announced winner amidst cheers and singing by his large following.

The bout did not only serve the boxing needs of the fans, it also created an avenue for more proverbs from the Banku side of things, many to be expected on social media soon.

However there was a display of some atrocious commentary by one of the commentators on the night, Amin Lamptey who kept goofing time after time with some really disappointing pronunciations and constructions.

“This bout is going to be a TRAILER in Accra”

“The two rounds were very EXCITED’

“ One more ROUNDS left”

You are the best judge.

In the end the fans had their monies-worth, and one man, Bukom Banku got the bragging right and kept his record of 27 wins intact.Ayittey on the other hand continued his terrible run of results as he suffered his 24^th defeat of his boxing career.

ALL hail the non-title cruiserweight champion, Brima Kamoko!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ARSENAL’S NINE TROPHY-LESS YEARS ENDS WITH F.A CUP WIN

“The specialist in failure” finally gets one better than his noisy compatriot in a whirlwind season, which has seen Manchester United Liverpool and Chelsea all go trophy-less.

They came! They saw! They conquered!

After nine years of football in England without a major piece of silverware, Arsene Wenger’s side came to the party on Saturday afternoon, beating Hull City in the final of this year’s F.A cup match to annex the F.A cup trophy, England’s oldest club competition.

arsenal players celebrate after f.a cup win

Arsenal had previously been criticized by pundits for failing to win a trophy since 2005,when they last won the F.A cup in a final game against old rivals Manchester United.This was exacerbated by Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho,who called Arsene Wenger a ‘specialist in failure’ in a recent pre-match interview. 

Ever since they last won any trophy, players have made moves to other clubs in search for silverware. The likes of Samir Nasri,Gael Clichy and Robin Van Persie have all moved on from the club to win trophies in other clubs.

Under ten minutes in this season’s final at Wembley, James Chester and Curtis Davies put the tigers ahead, a dream start for Steve Bruce’s side.

It looked all like another missed opportunity, until impressive Santiago Cazorla pulled one back on seventeen minutes with a stunning free-kick, leaving Allan McGregor with absolutely no chance.

The guuners peppered the tigers’ defence over and over again, until seventy first minute when Laurent Koscielny reacted fastest to put the ball home from an Arsenal corner to pull even.

Substitute Yaya Sanogo, had chances to put the gunners ahead, but a combination of woeful finishing, the post and some stoic defending by the tigers kept the scores 2-2,until full time.

Arsenal were the better team in extra time piling the pressure on hull city, who themselves had a few half chances to snatch a winner.

England international, Jack Wilshire came on for Mesut Ozil,and combined well with Olivier Giroud to create more chances for the gunners.

Arsenal fans had their hearts in their mouths after some shaky handling in the area by Fabianski allowed Nigerian Sone Aluko shoot on goal,but missed a gaping goal by a few yards.

Things got more difficult for the tigers, and some beautiful combination from Giroud and Ramsey led to the winner.Giroud laid a brilliant back heel into the path of Ramsey,who toe-poked the ball past McGregor,leaving Wembley Stadium in raptures.

Hull City fashioned a few attacks to get an equalizer. Tried as they did, it was only one team that looked like winning the F.A cup, and it was Arsene Wenger’s side who held on to win the trophy to end a really long trophy duck which lasted for nine years.

celebrations aplenty for gunners

Come On You Gunners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A huge sigh of relief for the French manager!!!!!!!

 pictures : Getty images