Can you relate ...Zep(almshouse) & H.L ?

[Sir X]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...10/8780919.stm

[Sir X]

Black Stars' potential moment of history

Post categories: World Cup
| 08:54 UK time, Friday, 2 July 2010


For many years, Ghana had the proudest record in African football and their fans may try to reclaim that status should the Black Stars soar over the brink of history in Soccer City tonight.
Their path to Africa's first semi-finals is blocked by the over-achieving Uruguayans - a nation of four million people - who have won two World Cups and conceded just one goal in South Africa.
Having become the third African quarter-finalists after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002, the Black Stars are relishing the prospect of further history - as anyone who's seen their joyful singing on Thursday will attest.

"We're ready to live the ultimate dream," says youngster Samuel Inkoom.

"I don't think Uruguay will be easy but we are capable of winning."
The Black Stars' pioneering past suggests they have every chance. The first team to win the Africa Cup of Nations four times, the west Africans were the continent's inaugural Olympic medallists - taking bronze in 1992 - and have also lifted Fifa's U-17 World Cup trophy twice.
But senior success at global level was absent until a new broom at the Ghanaian FA insisted on using accurate ages in youth tournaments.
"We'd been winning at junior level but the success never translated to the seniors - because players who were supposedly 22 or 23 were already past their prime," says GFA chairman Kwesi Nyantakyi, appointed in 2005, the year before Ghana reached its first World Cup .
The fruits appeared as the Black Satellites became Africa's first Fifa U-20 World Cup champions last October, seeing off Brazil in a final staged on continental soil, in Egypt.
Five members of that squad are in the youngest squad at the World Cup , with 15 players aged 24 and under.
Dede Ayew, Jonathan Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah have all taken to South Africa's pitches but defender Mensah and left-winger Ayew are suspended - and the in-form son of Ghana great Abedi 'Pele', Ayew, will be missed.
Making a timely return from injury is Hoffenheim centre-back Isaac Vorsah, who proved himself at this year's Nations Cup in Angola, where Serb coach Milovan Rajevac displayed his tactical prowess by leading an injury-ravaged side to the final.
Asamoah Gyan is chasing Roger Milla's African World Cup goals record
Youngsters like Vorsah, 22, Inkoom, 20, and Kojo Asamoah, 21, grabbed a vital taste of senior competition with John Mensah, John Paintsil, Stephen Appiah, Laryea Kingson and Michael Essien all out - and the youths ground out incredibly mature wins.

Another notable aspect about Angola was Rajevac's iron discipline. Ghanaians were stunned when Sulley Muntari was left out of the Nations Cup squad for displaying a lack of that discipline, for this was a land where stars had often been begged to play despite previous indiscretions.
And history nearly repeated itself in South Africa when the 56-year-old wanted to banish the Inter player, who was dropped to the bench once more after he spoke out against the coach's tactics in the dressing room after the draw with Australia.
After the Ghana Football Association (GFA) failed to dissuade Rajevac, Stephen Appiah - a leader credited with bringing great unity to the squad - succeeded and the Serb showed his pragmatic qualities when bringing Muntari on against the USA.
Potential disaster had been averted and a man with attitude, but Champions League, Serie A and FA Cup winners' medals as well, may now start in Ayew's absence.
Screening the back four in a 4-1-4-1 formation, the diminutive Anthony Annan is playing so well you almost forget Michael Essien's injury and his positioning will be critical to Ghana's chances of silencing the attacking triumvirate of Edison Cavani, Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan.
In total contrast, Asamoah Gyan makes leading the line single-handedly look easy and is a goal shy of Roger Milla's African World Cup record of five - a far contrast from 2008 when the the-then profligate striker nearly quit the Black Stars after being issued with death threats, until dissuaded by his team-mates.
"We are united," says the 25-year-old. "I always say football is not about fighting, football is fun. We just play with happiness. If you have problems, it is very difficult for you to play."
The Rennes man is in great form - having hit three at both the Nations Cup and World Cup - but midfielder Asamoah, the Udinese youngster who emerged in Muntari's absence in Angola, needs to come alive, while fans are also anxious about Kevin-Prince Boateng's fitness.
All, however, will be roared on by most of Soccer City's 80,000 fans, as well as an entire continent, who will be willing the Black Stars to make Africa proud.
"Whether we win or lose, Ghanaian football has already won," says Abedi Pele. "This has been a collective effort but credit must go to our government for vital funding and to the GFA."
The latter's policies - focusing on youth identification and development, scouring coaches with diligent planning, and paying bonuses on time - are exemplary but will a quarter-final or semi-final spot be the prize?
Or can the Black Stars shock the world and create even greater history?

[Sir X]

Nelson Mandela invites Black Stars to his home
By: Kofi Owusu Aduonum

Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandel
The Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, has extended a special invitation to the Black Stars of Ghana at his home for an interaction on Saturday July 3.
The Black Stars are the sole survivors for Africa at the ongoing FIFA World cup in South Africa following the exit of the other five nations.
The Black Stars became the third African Nation after Cameroon and Senegal to make it to the quarter finals in the history of the World Cup.
In the wake of their success so far at the tournament, Mandela is said to be impressed with the team’s performance and has therefore invited the team to visit him in Cape Town.
In an interview with Citi FM the Minister of Youth and Sports, Akua Sena Dansua, who confirmed the news said the Black Stars would be transported to Cape Town in a chartered flight organized by authorities of Port Elizabeth.
“I am informed that the municipality of Port Elizabeth has offered to bring the Black Stars to Cape Town on Saturday where they would have an interaction with the former President of South Africa, Mr Nelson Mandela”.
The sports minister also revealed that the ruling ANC in South Africa has also invited the Black Stars on Thursday June 30 for a presentation. “We understand also that the ANC has also invited the Stars for a presentation on Thursday but we don’t know whether it is in the form of a citation or cash”
Meanwhile several South African provinces have also announced that their citizens should from today, Thursday June 30, wear the national colours of Ghana to support the Black Stars in their quarter final match against Uruguay on Friday July 2.

[Sir X]

Gyan rates US strike as his best
By: Kofi Owusu Aduonum

Asamoah Gyan, Black Stars
Asamoah Gyan has rated his goal against the United States at the World Cup amongst the best in his career.
The Ghana striker’s fine volley flew past Tim Howard in extra-time, and proved the winner in the 2-1 victory over the Americans on Saturday. “The goal was one of the best of my career. I was pushed from behind and I should have fallen down (to claim a penalty), but I resisted and I made it happen.”
Gyan, who is on three goals so far in the tournament, however, insists that his primary ambition is to help Ghana advance to the semi-finals as he plays down talk of targeting the tournament’s top scorer award.
“I am only thinking about helping my team to win. The prize is not important, remember football is a collective game.”

[Sir X]

Mbeki salutes Stars

Ex-President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki backs the Black Stars to continue to lead Africa at the World Cup and do the continent proud.
The leader in message sent to the President of the Ghana Football Association congratulated and extended his best wishes to the playing body, coaching and management teams.
I wish to convey my heartfelt congratulations to you, the Ghana Football Association and the Ghana Black Stars national team for its outstanding success in advancing to the next round of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
It is clear that the Black Stars will now have to discharge the highly honourable and well deserved responsibility to represent Africa and the African Diaspora in the next stages of the World Cup.
In this regard the Black Stars will remain true to the role that Ghana has played as an eminent leader of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora as they have worked to resolve the challenges we have had to confront.
I am certain that these millions will now rally behind the Black Stars to guarantee that we cap the fact of the very successful hosting of the World Cup by Africa by ensuring that on behalf of the Continent and the Diaspora, the Black Stars, now of Africa, win the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.

[Islandman]

Can feel the vibes!