Rally round the Red, Gold Black and Green

[Sir X]

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Black stars mi say .

[Sir X]

World Cup 2010: 'A victory for Africa' as Ghana defeats the US in extra time
Black Stars move a step closer to being first African side in a World Cup semi-final
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David Smith
The Observer, Sunday 27 June 2010
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So it is an African World Cup after all. Ghana's extra-time win over the United States last night brought redemption to a continent that had looked set for an almighty anti-climax on home ground.

"This is a victory for Africa," bellowed one of the triumphant Black Stars moments after the final whistle. The sentiment was echoed in cheers that erupted across South Africa and in the calls of politicians and newspaper editorials for all Africans to rally round their sole flag-bearer.

Despite missing their star player, Chelsea's Michael Essien, through injury, Ghana are now just one win away from becoming the first African side to play a World Cup semi-final. Their run is all the sweeter because Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Africa fell meekly at the first hurdle.

Soul-searching is already under way, with critics blaming African football officials for appointing short-term foreign coaches and failing to build grassroots structures. Ghana, by contrast, have invested in youth development which paid off when they recently won the under-20s World Cup.

South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) last night praised them for ensuring African representation in the last eight. "The ANC would like to thank the Ghana national soccer team [the Black Stars] for salvaging the image of the continent in this tournament," it said.

"We are very confident that having gone this far, you are indeed heading for the 2010 Fifa World Cup finals on our soil. We are very proud of you, as South Africa and as part of the continent of Africa, you are our pride."

There has already been much talk of pride off the field from the ANC and others. Ghana's performance puts the seal on a World Cup increasingly being hailed as one of the most successful ever.

"South Africans are already winners," president Jacob Zuma said last week, seeking solace for the national team's exit. "We won on 15 May 2004 when the announcement was made, declaring us as the hosts. The whole world is looking at us and applauding our success so far as hosts."

South Africa does appear to have proved the doubters wrong, though complacency would still be dangerous. Matches have kicked off on time, stadiums have been (mostly) full, floodlights have stayed on and even the great bogeyman – crime – appears to have retreated in the teeth of a huge police operation and harsh penalties.

Whatever the economic pros and cons, there has also been a surge of patriotism and unity. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said: "Over the past few weeks South Africa has experienced an extraordinary revival of its national spirit."

Some believe it is a turning point for all of Africa too. The World Cup has come at a moment when politicians and investors are already arguing that corruption, disease, famine, poverty and war should no longer be hung around the continent's neck. They say its economies are growing, its dictatorships are waning and it has seen no new major wars in the past five years. Hosting the world's biggest sports showpiece is the ultimate symbol of a developing, normalising Africa at ease with itself.

Steve Bloomfield, author of Africa United: How Football Explains Africa, said: "I'd wait until 12 July to completely crow but it's now clear that some of the stories about how bad South Africa was going to be as host were ludicrously over the top.

"The image we have in the west of war, famine and corruption is part of the African story, but only part. The World Cup will help chip away at that image."

As for Ghana's impressive displays, Bloomfield added: "On the field, Africa is down but it's certainly not out."

[Islandman]

Nice article. Thanks.