Continental football is back again, albeit this time in a different season (June-July instead of January-February) and a different format (16 to 24 teams).
If the razzmatazz of the draw - held at the picturesque
Sphinx and the Pyramids in Giza - was
the hors d'oeuvre, the actual competition which is in full swing is showing
glimpses of delivering on its promise as the main course. From the ancient aura
of Alexandria through the principal
streets of Bangui to the shipping
yards of Port Elizabeth, the allure
for football on Pharaoh’s grass is
certainly at an all-time high.
In Ghana, issues pertaining to religion, politics and football
garner a lot of interest. If the assertions made by sportswriter Fiifi Anaman’s AIPS award-winning article
in 2015* (“Where is the love: How the
Black Stars stabbed the nation in cold blood”) still holds, then interest in
activities of the Black Stars by its citizenry has waned tremendously since the
disgraceful events at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Training boycotts, dollar-laden private jet interventions, John
Boye’s cash-kissing and Sulley Muntari’s Azumah Nelson impression off the pitch
(instead of an Abedi Pele one on it!), and
even Asamoah Gyan’s recent captaincy theatrics constitute just a soupçon of
major events which have irked the average tax payer and Black Stars Fan.
Currently, there is a feeling that the National Science and Maths Quiz has stolen the hearts, minds and
eyes of most Ghanaians. But, irrespective
of your perspective, tonight marks the beginning of another journey for the Blacks
Stars to end the country’s fabled trophy drought, now in its 37th
year.
The undeniable truth is that we’re, by default, lovers of
the national team, hence we automatically loathe the phenomenon of perceived
corruption and bonus obsession that has become symbolic with this national
treasure.
Perhaps, the often cited phrase “All is fair in Love and War” sums up our relationship with the national team, and as such no act is too
terrible or too great when it comes to supporting or cutting them off. Genuine
love between two people often involves hurt and friction, and ours with the Black Stars isn’t any different.
For now, the Black Stars might be reminded of these lyrics
of American rapper 50 Cents’ 2005
song "A Baltimore Love Thing":
“We got a love thing, girl you tried to
leave me, but you need me, can you see you're addicted to me?” – a perfect
analogy for the sempiternal bond
between the team and its fans, either expressed via helpless enthusiasm or
deliberate apathy.
Whether it will be via the soulful melody of our national anthem
or the adrenaline-inducing sound of the referee’s whistle prior to kick off,
one thing is certain; we will all find it hard to suppress our affection, to
deny our patriotism.We will be watching our dear Stars, because love is what it
is.
https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/a-black-star-love-hate-love-thing/xvq9jrz
Twitter @Terence__Wood
Twitter @Terence__Wood
Football in Ghana is a religion !!!
ReplyDeletechaley true bro
ReplyDeleteChale the razzmatazz weak me ����
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA BRO :
DeleteArticles always on point bro. You’ll only get better. Keep it up
ReplyDeletethanks bro, I appreciate a lot
Delete!!