For the international audience it may be just another date. In Ghana, that date brings black memories for football fans

The story is simple. As it is sad.

That’s it.

A man who divides opinion this side of town like he makes it in Italy. He was interviewed by Italian publication, “So Foot”. He describes his Berlin youth, the relationship with his brother, Jerome, along with Juergen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund and Massimiliano Allegri. Boateng also discussed his integration at AC Milan where he had special observations about Rino Gattuso and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Lastly, Boateng described his off-the-pitch relationship with Milan fans and a concern that supporters had about his girlfriend, Melissa Satta.

Thanks for translation from Italian by my friend Steve Amoia (Twitter here and website here).

“Ghetto Kid”
“They call me ‘Ghetto Kid’ because I come from a neighborhood in Berlin that the Germans consider to be a ghetto. The word ghetto is perhaps over the top. I don’t know anything that resembles it. It’s not like the Brazilian favelas (slums), but is a difficult place. I come from there, but I got out. There was a lot of crime and drug dealers. I once saw that they shot someone in front of me. But I didn’t have an unhappy childhood even if at times, the refrigerator was empty. In those times, I had to go to eat at my friends’ houses. For many, when they live without things, they become aggressive because they think they don’t deserve the reality they live in.

I have a lot of friends who ended up in jail and many who were stabbed. The best example is my older brother who could have become a footballer but he threw it all away. It’s been my luck because I was able to transfer my anger to something positive of which I’m proud. I hope to become a hero for the people who still live there.”

On Jerome Boateng
“We talk every day. We’re good friends even if there is a certain distance seeing that we didn’t wake up every morning together when we were children. We had a different mentality because we grew up in different environments.”

His father, on the other hand, Boateng only saw about fifteen times in his life:

“He wasn’t there when at certain times when I would have needed for him to at least tell me what I could or couldn’t do.”

On Juergen Klopp and Massimiliano Allegri
“In training, he blamed me and only let me play ten games. But with him, I learned how to place my shots on target.”

Even with Massimiliano Allegri (his manager at AC Milan), Boateng is getting on well:

“He can even come to me and say that I am a cretin if I miss a goal-scoring chance. I would laugh because I’d agree with him.”

On his integration at AC Milan
At Milan, the Ghanaian international has perfectly integrated because, “At these levels, respect means something. What you show and what you receive in return. At the start, I made a boatload of tackles. Even against the superstars but always respecting the player, and nobody said a word to me. It’s here that I learned how to tackle, And when you make one, the people here cheer as if you scored a goal.”

On Rino Gattuso and Zlatan Ibrahimovic
“Gattuso has an incredible way of being. I admire him because when he gets up in the morning, he has the desire to play, run, take on anyone and I ask myself where does all of this energy come from? Ibrahimovic is the same. He’s so strong that he could also smoke a cigarette before scoring a goal.”

His Relationship with Milan fans and Melissa Satta

“The people here love me. When I go and order carry-out meals, it takes me an hour. I couldn’t ever send anyone in my place. I think that people appreciate me because I’m just like they would like me to be. They can approach and talk to me. At times, it’s stressful, but I like it. I speak five languages: English, German, Italian, Turkish and I understand Arabic and French.

I’ve never been an animal in the least. The stadium is a special place. People expect that I give everything to win. And it makes your head spin when in the end, you feel like a gladiator.”

His reputation as a gladiator follows him under the magnifying glass. And those on Twitter who ask him not to make love anymore with his girlfriend, Melissa Satta, to avoid getting injured. He responds that they are stupid things to say, because otherwise, “All footballers would have to be injured.”

–
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This was first published on Beyond the Pitch .

After the nervy penalty shootout at Mozambique’s national stadium, Ghana’s male team won gold at the All Africa Games after beating Cameroon in this September 2011 final. Ghana had not been able to do this in 56 years. And yet the man in the dugout did not celebrate wildly.

He politely shook hands with his technical team. Then he said words of congrats to his players. Then after hanging around for a bit more, he quietly left for the dressing room. That sums up the exterior of Ghana’s new coach, Kwesi Appiah, whose appointment was announced on the evening of Easter Monday.

The news came as a surprise, and a bold one, at a time former French captain Marcel Desailly was widely reported to have grabbed the job.

SuperSport.com’s Gary Al-Smith runs the rule of the events leading to the choice and assesses the fears and hopes associated with it.

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What happened to Marcel?

At least, until last Saturday morning, Marcel Desailly was 97% sure that he was to lead Ghana. Once again, the job he has wanted for years is out of his grasp.

When he met the Ghana FA president on Saturday, it was to go over, for the last time, the only issue that made up the 3% uncertainty for the former French captain. Kwesi Nyantakyi asked Marcel if his offer still stood. Marcel said “yes.”

Currently an employee of Canal+, Marcel Desailly earns in excess of two million euros annually for punditry and other fringe jobs. To leave those deals and settle in Ghana for the Black Stars would have meant a financial windfall.

The businessman in him could not risk it. So he did the next most prudent thing.

According to Ernest Koranteng, a journalist with Accra-based Joy FM and one of those at the forefront of the post-Goran Stevanovic saga, Marcel Desailly wanted some big cash.

“Marcel wanted at least a hundred thousand Euros. Not because he felt he was worth that alone, but because of his pedigree and what he would lose elsewhere if he takes the Ghana job.”

Kwesi Nyantakyi flatly told Marcel that Ghana simply could not give him that kind of cash.

SuperSport.com reported last week Marcel that also demanded control if he was chosen. It was reported that former Chelsea assistant Ray Wilkins would have been drafted as Marcel’s deputy. Again, the stumbling block for that reported demand was money, which the Ghana FA simply were not willing to pay.

And so Desailly left the meeting. And, perhaps, he waved goodbye for the last time to being hands-on favourite to lead his biological nation for the next few years.

The Ghana FA boss took his phone and placed a call. Plan B needed to be executed, and fast.

Getting Kwesi Appiah

The fact that 51-year old Kwesi Appiah took the news calmly did not shock anyone. His controlled temperament is one of his biggest assets. When the call came to him, he took it on the chin, as usual.

“Kwesi was pleasantly surprised but he did not react [when he was told he had the Black Stars job]. He was quiet at first, and then later accepted it. Even he did not expect it because he honestly believed Marcel was already going to get it,” said a source at the FA on Monday night.

“[Ghana FA boss] Nyantakyi did not really want Desailly for many reasons, but he did not have a lot of options either. Appiah was basically the lesser of two evils.”

The Ghana FA Executive Committee have had their President by the balls for close to two months now, in the wake of his support of ex-coach Goran Stevanovic, even while they were overwhelmingly against it.

The FA source said: “Some members of the FA were not in favour of Kwesi getting even more than $5000 a month, which would have been criminal. But he surprised everybody by insisting calmly that he won’t settle for anything less than an expatriate will take.”

Kwesi Appiah’s insistence was, for a moment, an outstanding issue. But it was quickly resolved as he was promised a juicy deal. “It is not going to be as much as a European will be paid, but it will be far better than locals are used to,” the FA source said.

SuperSport.com has learned that the new man will get nothing less than 10,000 Euros a month, with as much as 15,000 in totality if add-ons are considered.

Attributes and risk

“Can Kwesi Appiah do the job?”

That’s the usual question any coach will face, but this man in particular will need to do more convincing than most. Kwesi Appiah is Ghana’s first local boss since 2002. Since Emmanuel Afranie lost his job to a European at that time, there’ve been three Serbians, a Frenchman, a Portuguese and two Germans.

The mentality of the people he will serve will be a huge challenge for Appiah. You would have thought someone who was assistant coach at the last World Cup & at Afcon 2008, 2010 and 2012 will have the support of his countrymen.

Abedi Pele, the man who took the Black Stars captaincy from Kwesi Appiah in controversial circumstances in 1992, has been first to lend his support. “I don’t mind if a Ghanaian takes the job. Look, those who have won all the trophies for Ghana are all local coaches. What is wrong with keeping a local coach?”

That kind of support, though, is in short supply. The court of public opinion is sharply divided over this man who, despite being Plan B, has been given the nod. However, several people close to Ghana’s new man told SuperSport.com that he is determined to prove doubters wrong.

GFA’s Communication Director knows how dicey this appointment is. “It is important that we support him, but the FA is aware of how uncomfortable people will be especially because Kwesi has not held a team in that regard. But let’s not forget that Marcel – who the FA never mentioned as a successor like many media people did – has not also coached any team before. And besides, Kwesi has national team experience,” said Ibrahim Saanie Daara.

When Ghana went to Mozambique for the 2011 All Africa Games, it was Appiah who took a hastily assembled team that had endured disorganized administration and won gold.

But does it guarantee him support in his new job?

Appiah’s “uninspiring” past

In the 12 hours or so since the announcement, the FA has been at pains to stress that the new man has their backing in every respect. They are allowing him to choose his own assistant, which SuperSport.com has been told will be Maxwell Konadu, the current Kotoko boss.

One argument that came up strongly for Marcel Desailly was his charisma and ability to kill off egos in the dressing room. Ex-Ghana international Sammy Kuffuor had pushed for Desailly based on this on SuperSport’s hugely popular Soccer Africa show.

“For me if there is a possibility, I think Desailly should be given the job. It will be nice to see Kwasi Appiah assist him, because he has been in the system for a long time and will give Marcel vital information on the local side. If you combine Marcel’s international exposure and Kwasi’s local wisdom, it will be very great.”

To the contrary, Appiah is seen as docile and unassertive. Indeed, history is filled with situations to support this. In 2001, Appiah was made assistant to interim Ghana boss Cecil Jones Attuquayefio. They played four games, drawing against Nigeria and losing the rest. Kwesi Appiah took a surprising amount of blame because he was said to be uninspiring.

Going further back, the legendary Charles Kumi Gyamfi, winner of three of Ghana’s four Afcon trophies, gave the captaincy to Abedi Pele before the 1992 African Cup simply because Appiah could not stand his ground for it. Gyamfi, then the technical director of the team, made the point that Abedi spoke French, a quality Gyamfi felt would be needed in the tournament to be hosted by French-speaking Senegal.

To this day, many feel Appiah could have held on to the band had he been a bit more forceful. In today’s era of overpaid national team players, will his perceived docility see him being pushed around?

“I don’t mind if a Ghanaian takes the job. Look, those who have won all the trophies for Ghana are all local coaches. What is wrong with keeping a local coach?” – Abedi Pele

Counter arguments

But those in favour of Appiah argue that he has been in leadership positions too many times not to able to handle the big job. He played for Ghanaian giants Kotoko from 1982 to 1993, captaining the side for a lot of that time and leading them to many memorable trophies.

His determination is not the loud type that is noticed by all, but Kwesi Appiah wields soft power. He is principled and strong willed, say his supporters. But even they will agree that the man is yet to show these qualities openly.

What he needs, Appiah’s backers say, is support. Support from the FA, support from the media and most importantly, support from the public.

Going forward
Kwesi Appiah’s immediate task will be to win over his people when the qualifiers come around in June. Despite being an afterthought, it will be a great boost for local coaches should the new man do well.

It just might be the nail in the coffin for those who feel a foreigner is the best bet for Ghana.

And after all, Ghana has not made such a substantive appointment for a long time. The last person to be credibly appointed in such a manner as Kwesi Appiah has, was Charles Kumi Gyamfi in the lead up to Ghana’s last African Cup win in 1982.

And as Kwesi Appiah’s supporters will remind you, Ghana has never won an African Cup under an expatriate. This may be time to revive us again.

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The Ghana Football Association have confirmed the appointment of James Kwesi Appiah as the substantive head coach of the Black Stars.

A statement on the website said the executive committee of the GFA confirmed the appointment of the former international at a meeting in Accra on Monday.

The meeting was called to discuss the head-hunting exercise undertaken by the GFA to find a permanent Black Stars coach.

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Appiah will meet the executive committee of the GFA on Tuesday to formalize the deal.

He has been the assistant coach of the Black Stars since since 2008 and led the Black Meteors to win the Gold medal at the 2011 All African Games.

Kwesi has also been captain of the Black Stars, as well as having been a member of the junior national teams.

It puts paid to all the strong rumours and associations of Marcel Desailly for the job.

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Ghana have sacked national team coach Goran Stevanovic. The lawyer of the Black Stars coach and the Ghana FA vice president both confirmed the news to different Accra-based stations.

On Saturday, Jordan Anagbla, the FA vice president told Radio Gold that the Serbian was fired following a meeting on Friday and that his compensation package is what is being discussed.

And then on Monday morning in an interview with Citi FM, Lawyer Zoran, the legal rep for the Serbian explained how his client wanted to stay, but the Ghana Football Association refused.

According to Citi FM’s report: “Goran’s lawyer asked the executive committee of the FA to let his client stay, but they refused. He said they (GFA) made an offer and wasn’t good and they are now going back and forth for a good deal for Stevanovic.

“He (the lawyer) wished Stevanovic could have stayed on for the national team. He said they did their best for Ghana, but they didn’t want him to stay and he wished Ghana the best.”

An official statement will be made shortly, SuperSport.com has learnt. The Serbian’s deal was due to expire in February 2013, the same month as next year’s Nations Cup will be held in South Africa.

Goran was hired last January and he guided Ghana to the African Nations Cup earlier this year but was knocked out in the semi by eventual champions, Zambia.

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According to the report, on the hard copy of the contract, there was no date available when the Agreement was signed into effect, but it does indicate somewhere in January 2011.

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****

THE AGREEMENT is made the day of January 2011 in Accra, between THE GHANA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION of 7, South East Ridge, Osu Link Accra in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana with its offices situated at ….. Accra in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana (hereinafter called the *Association*) of the one part and GORAN STEVANOVIC a Serbian national of Gen. Mihaijila Nedeljkovic 140, Belgrade (hereinafter called the “Coach”) of the other part.

WHEREAS The Association is desirous of engaging the services of a coach for the senior national team of Ghana called the Black Stars and has offered to engage the coach upon the terms and conditions herein stated; and

The Coach has accepted the Association’s offer to Coach the senior national team aforesaid upon the terms set out herein.

Job Description
1.1 The Coach shall be in charge of and be responsible for the selection of players, training, play, performance and the general technical direction of the Black Stars as well as the general technical direction and supervision of other national football teams to which the Coach may be assigned by the Association.

1.2 The Coach’s job title or description does not limit the work the Coach is employed to do and the Coach may be required to do any work within his capacity and competence as a coach that the Association may from time to time require and direct.

2.0 Commencement & Term
2.1 The Coach’s employment is for a period of Two (2) years certain and shall commence on the 1st day of February 2011 to 28th February 2013 unless it is extended, or terminated in accordance with this agreement.

2.2 For the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed by the parties that the Association alone has the power to extend the present agreement after a period of two (2) years subject to the general terms and conditions stipulated herein.

3.0 Place of Work
3.1 The base from which the Coach shall perform his duties under this Agreement shall be any place or places in Ghana or any other place that the Association shall designate or direct but his normal residence shall be in Accra.

3.2 The Coach may be required in the performance of his duties to travel to such places in or outside Ghana as the nature of his work in terms of this Agreement requires subject to the permission and direction of the Association.

3.3 If the Coach is required to work outside Ghana for the performance of his duties, the Association will, in order to preserve the Coach’s employment rights, treat the Coach as ordinarily working in Ghana

4.0 Technical Staff

4.1 The Coach shall in the performance of his duties, be supported by a technical team comprising such persons as shall be appointed by the Association in consultation with the Coach and persons forming part of that technical team shall be subject to the direction of the Coach.

5.0 Management Team
5.1 The parties understand and agree that the day-to-day management of the national teams shall be vested in Management Committees appointed by the Association but that Coach shall in the performance of his duties, be answerable directly to the Association.

6.0 Remuneration/Benefits

Salary and Bonuses

6.1 The Association shall pay to the Coach for his services under this Agreement:

6.1.1 A monthly salary of Thirty Thousand Euros (€30,000.00) payable in arrears at the end of every month. The salary shall be net of taxes and all deductions.

6.1.2 A performance bonus

6.1.2.1 In the case of the Black Stars, shall be twice any sum paid to the players of the Black Stars for winning any competitive international match;
6.1.2.2 In respect of other national teams for which the Coach may be assigned such amount as may be agreed.

6.1.2.3 In addition to the aforesaid sums to be paid to the coach, the coach shall be entitled to payment of the sum of two hundred thousand Euros (€200,000.00) as signing on fees and the further payments as stipulated in clause 6.1.2.4 hereunder;

6.1.2.4 the sum of One hundred thousand Euros each (€100,000.00) if the Black Stars team wins the Africa Cup of Nations (2012,2013), the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand Euros (€250,000.00) if the Black Stars team qualifies to play in the 2014 World Cup, the sum of five hundred thousand Euros (€500,000.00) if the team qualifies to play in the final game of the 2014 World Cup and the sum of one million Euros (€1,000,000.00) if the Black Stars team wins the 2014 World Cup.

6.1.2.5 All payments are net of taxes

Accommodation & Communication
6.2 The Association shall provide for the use and benefit of the Coach the following facilities:

6.2.1 A cell phone to be used solely for purposes of his employment the bills on which shall be paid by the Association.

6.2.2 A vehicle with a driver for the Coach’s official and personal use. Fuel and maintenance cost of the vehicle shall be paid by the Association.

6.2.3 Furnished accommodation suitable for a family of four. The cost of water, electricity and other utilities, rates and impositions on the premises shall be paid by the Association.

Medical Care
6.2.4 The Association shall ensure that the coach and his wife are provided with medical care in Ghana and shall accordingly cause to be affected and maintained a health insurance policy to cover the cost of the medical care received by the Coach and his wife in Ghana

6.2.5 A personal accident policy with an insurance company of repute in Ghana. The sum insures shall be negotiated.

Holidays
6.3 The Coach shall be entitled to forty (40) days paid holidays in each year of his employment. All holidays must be taken at times agreed at least one month in advance by the Association and not more than twenty (20) days may be taken consecutively on any one occasion without the express written permission of the Association.

Travel Facilities
6.4 The Association shall provide the Coach and his wife airline tickets on a suitable airline for the purpose of:

6.4.1 Travel from Serbia to Accra to commence his employment under this Agreement.

6.4.2 Travel from Accra to Serbia on the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

6.4.3 Travel from Accra to Serbia and back to Accra once in a year for approved holidays.

6.5 The Association shall obtain at its expense for the Coach and his wife all visas and permits required under the laws of Ghana to enable the Coach live and work in Ghana for the duration of this Agreement.

7.0 Good faith/Loyalty
7.1 The Coach shall devote his whole time, attention and skill to the business and interest of the national teams to which he is assigned in a proper and efficient manner and use his best endeavours to develop, maintain and extend that business, and at all times act loyally and faithfully to the Association.

7.2 The Coach shall not directly or indirectly carry on or assist in carrying on or be employed or engaged in any other business or work of any kind during the term of this Agreement.

8.0 Confidentiality
8.1 Except as authorized by his duties the Coach shall keep secret and shall not use or disclose and shall use his best endeavours to prevent the use or disclosure by any person of any of the Association’s confidential information which comes to his knowledge during the term of this Agreement.

8.2 The restrictions in sub-clause 8.1 shall apply during and after the termination of the Coach’s employment without any time limit but shall cease to apply to any information or knowledge which the Coach establishes has in its entirety become public knowledge otherwise through any unauthorized disclose or other breach on his part.

9.0 Termination
9.1 As stipulated at clause 2 herein the duration of this contract shall be for two (2) years but the Association alone shall have the right to extend the contract after a period of two years but where the Association does not terminate the coach’s contract after the first two years, the coach shall be entitled to a twenty five per cent (25%) increase in his monthly salary.

9.2 The immediately preceding clause notwithstanding the Association may terminate the Coach’s employment without any compensation and without prior notice where the Coach is:-

9.2.1 Found liable by any competent authority for an offence involving dishonesty, possession, use or application of illegal or prohibited drugs or substances.

9.2.2 Found by any international football association to have behaved in such manner that the continuous employment of the Coach is likely to bring the Association into public ridicule, dishonor or contempt.

9.3 The Agreement shall in any event be terminated in any of the following circumstances

9.3.1 On the date stipulated for expiry that is after two (2) years

9.3.2 If there is a fundamental breach of this agreement occasioned by

(i) Refusal or failure by the coach to act in accordance with his obligations under this agreement as directed by the Association
(ii) Refusal or failure by the Association to pay the remuneration due the coach on the date on which it is due.
(iii) Breach of the coach’s obligations as to confidentiality as stipulated in this agreement

Provided that where there is a fundamental breach by any of the parties of any term of this Agreement the injured party shall serve notice of such breach on the party in default requiring him/it to remedy the breach within the time stipulated in the agreement and if the defaulting party fails so to do the injured party may then elect to terminate the agreement.

9.4 On the expiry or termination of this Agreement, for any cause the coach shall return all properties belonging to the Association or which he holds on behalf of the Association to the Association in good condition.

10.0 Settlement of Disputes
10.1 The parties shall endeavor in all cases to settle any disputes and misunderstandings which may arise in connection with this Agreement amicably

10.2 Where amicable settlement of any dispute arising from this Agreement, cannot be reached, the parties shall refer the matter to FIFA for determination.

AS WITNESS the parties have the day and year first written above set their hands to this Agreement

Signed for and behalf of the Ghana Football Association

KWESI NYANTAKYI (PRESIDENT)

In the Presence of

KOFI NSIAH

Signed by the Coach

GORAN STEVANOVIC

In the Presence of
……………………………………..

**END**

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An efficient showing against Mali saw Ghana move to the top of Group D in the African Cup. Franceville witnessed a much more assured game from the lads. Andre Ayew’s comment after the game sums it up: “People were beginning to doubt us but we know what we are doing. We have not even hit 100%”

Ghana started with the usual 4-2-3-1. Mali, however, went with a 4-2-3-1, essentially a 4-2-4 at times. The 4-2-4 has not been used in about 60 years, since 1950s. It was surprising that they went that way, but in sections of the game, Ghana’s weak left and right flanks ensured it succeeded.

Here are my ratings for the players and their performances. Share your thoughts as well!

GHANA RATINGS

Adam Kwarasey – 6: The immediate problem with the new man is his positioning. It left quite a bit to be desired. I noticed he kicks the ball long and hard, which is good. But can he also work on his distribution? Possession begins with the goalkeeper these days…

John Boye -7: His last two showings remind me of the way he played when he was named Defender of the Year in the Ghana league a few seasons ago. If Ghana’s attack were blunt, he could have won MVP again.

John Paintsil -6: His crosses are still not sharp, but the veteran did well in the first half, especially, using his side to enter the Malian defence. It’s obviously due to a lack of club time that he seems indecisive at times, but he’ll get there soon.

Jonathan Mensah -7: Still maturing in his tackles, but there’s no doubt about his quality. After the game, former u-20 World Cup winner Sellas Tetteh went as far as suggesting Jonathan should keep his place for John Mensah to be benched. Well played.

Masahudu Alhassan -5: Attacking-wise, the debutant looks fine, with his crossing and distribution quite good. The problem seems to be his ability to recover. It was risky starting him in the first place, but the team covered up for some of his flaws.

Anthony Annan -6.5: Although his passing statistics are impressive, most of them are back-passes. And that’s a problem. However, he played more solidly than against Botswana. A few more up-tempo performances will get him to his best.

Sulley Muntari -4.5: Bad day at the office for Muntari. The look on his face when he was subbed said it all. He started well, helping the attack but he was frozen out late on. The decision to start him was not wrong, however, on the strength of his last game.

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu -7: Few players in this Ghana team have his consistency and energy. All over the place, he even went out of his way to assist Pantsil on the right and spent a lot of time intercepting.

He also took up some freekick duties, throw ins and swapped places with Andre or Kwadwo Asamoah on occasion. He also made sure Modibo Maiga stopped harrassing Alhassan, while dealing with Keita as well.

In 2010, Kwadwo Asamoah was the key to Ghana, sitting in the hole and drawing opponents. In 2012, it’s this man, given a duplicity of roles in midfield.

Here is proof.

Kwadwo Asamoah -7: One major game on the bench put the screws on his head at the right places. His one-touch passing returned, with deftness at key times, too. Shooting has always been one of his weapons, and he experimented to good effect. Good display for Ghana’s playmaker.

Andre Ayew -8: His coach has clearly had a talk with him, as he released the ball much earlier than he did vs Botswana. Also took his role as the man to get key freekicks for Ghana (he got 4 of them within shooting range, one of which Asamoah Gyan scored.). His fearlessness is a great asset, as shown from how he took the second goal.

Asamoah Gyan -7.5: Are we seeing the beginnings of a return to his form of the last two years? Almost flawless showing yesterday. And that freekick – which is his first ever freekick for Ghana – came from nowhere. Showed why he is quite indispensable to Ghana’s success.

SUBS

Charles Takyi – 6: The reason for his inclusion was soon apparent.

Samuel Inkoom – N/A: Came on too late to do much

Derek Boateng – N/A: Came on too late to do much.

Video Highlights:

Generally, a much better and another 3 points garnered. One game to go in the group, on Wednesday. Share your thoughts below.

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Not a good show

Ghana won 1-0 in Franceville following an unconvincing game against Botswana. Here are my ratings for the players and their performances. Share your thoughts as well!

RATINGS

Adam Kwarasey – 6: The mark is not because he was poor but because he was idle for long spells because Botswana were so docile. The second half was a different story, but he stood firm except for when John Boye was needed to clear off the line.

John Boye -7: CAF named him Man of the Match and it was deserved. Good passing and distribution. Also worthy of mention was his performance when his captain was sent off. The back-line was shaky but he did his best.

John Paintsil -6: He was initially solid in the first half but delivery of crosses still needs improvement. He tired in the second half and after John Mensah’s red card, was stretched as the Zebras tried to utilize their left wing.

John Mensah -7: Hero or zero? You decide. On the basis of performance, he marshalled things typically well and then there was his rare goal. The red card was a downer, but he did take one for the team. Leaving his marker would have certainly led to a goal. Certainly.

Samuel Inkoom -6: As many suspected, the left back was alien to him but he did things simply and was helped by their lack of activity in the first half. In the second half, he was quite vulnerable. Then Goran moved to the right and did better. Not sure he should go back to the left back though…

Anthony Annan -4: He was surprisingly rigid. Goran would definitely have started him to be the creative part of a robust middle, but he was not up there in performance.

Sulley Muntari -6.5: The fact that he seems to have found a new lease alone is hugely commendable. Tactically he did what he was told and worked for the team – which is more than we can say with his performances for Ghana in the past year. He was often found behind his own center line taking balls and supplying the attack as well as helping with mopping up.

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu -6.5: Played an efficient game but not his best we’ve seen. With Muntari playing in a deeper role, he had to attack just behind Gyan but, as Chris Opoku put it, “because of his natural holding instincts, he checked his runs from time to time”.

Jordan Ayew -5: Simply did not play well, probably because he was deployed in the wrong place, on the right. He was content with off the ball movements which eventually was not enough. He’s better as a target man or as a real number 9.

Andre Ayew -6: Against a different team he may not have done so well, but the Zebras seemed to be in awe in the first half so he had his way. The second half saw more marking from Ghana’s new number 10. He could not impose himself on the game and overdid it at times.

Asamoah Gyan -6: He did not get the best service especially after Mensah’s red, so he moved several times out of position, which affected the team’s thrust. On the plus side, it’s been a good run out for him following his injury. He’ll be more confident in coming games.

SUBS

Masahudu Alhassan – 5: First real tournament experience and he still may need some schooling in crossing, just like Pantsil on the other side. His end of the field was also the focus of Botswana’s attacks and he found it hard to cope. For a debut, it was ok.

Jonathan Mensah – 6: Despite having little club time, he is yet to have a bad game for the team. Did well to help in duties once Mensah was off and Botswana pounded his area.

Mohammed Abu – N/A: Replaced Andre Ayew but time was too short.

Video Highlights:

Generally, a poor show, but the 3 points are in the bag.

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Ghana boss Stevanovic

It’s showtime, then.

Ghana’s title pedigree will be tested when they start their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations campaign against debutants Botswana in Group D on Tuesday.

In 2010 the Black Stars went all the way to the final where they conceded a late goal to lose to Egypt 1-0, and should be determined to go all the way this time around. Although they kicked off that campaign with a 3-1 loss to Ivory Coast, they will be expected to do well against the Zebras, who are playing in this competition for the first time.

However, Stanley Tshosane’s men were the first team to qualify for this tournament as winners of Group K, which included Tunisia, Togo, Malawi and Chad.

Botswana

Official XI (4-5-1): Marumo – Tshepo, Letsholathebe,Thuma, Ramohibidu – Gabonamong, Nato, Motsepe, Moatlhaping, Mongala – Jerome

They trained in South Africa and Cameroon before the tournament. With a few of their lads based in the South African PSL, they can count on some form of ‘international exposure’. But their preparations were disturbed by a pay row which saw the players boycotting training before they were eventually held to a 0-0 draw by Zimbabwe.

On the field, Botswana’s weakest link is Ramohibidu at left back. He was picked ahead of Edwin Olerile, a decision widely critiqued in the country’s press. “People are entitled to their own opinions and I’ll not let that disturb me. The most important thing is that I’ve contributed to the success of the team in the qualifiers,” he said.

Ghana would have to watch Nato, who featured in all six qualifiers. He’s a hard worker with a creative streak on a good day. And Jerome Ramatlhakwane needs no introduction, as he was the top scorer in the Afcon qualifiers. Currently clubless, his form is surprisingly good and has a good eye for the ball. The sluggish John Mensah may have trouble dealing with him in one-on-one situations.

And then there is Phenyo Mongala, one of the South African based guys. A winger who switches flanks well, his direct, one touch play is also an asset, especially if he links well in the 5-man midfield being deployed.

Ghana will be grateful for the absence of Dipsy Selolwane, easily their best player, as well Joel Mogorosi. The verve they bring into midfield will be missed, and it’s almost a certainty they will be overrun by the mobile and hard Annan and Badu. Overall, Botswana will rely heavily on the midfield, which is packed with hardworkers.

Ghana

Official XI: Adam Kwarasey, John Paintsil, Samuel Inkoom, John Boye, John Mensah, Anthony Annan, Jordan Ayew, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew, Sulley Muntari.

The formation will be a 4-2-3-1, with Asamoah Gyan upfront.

Samuel Inkoom starts in left back, which will surprise many, considering the natural left-back Masawudu Alhassan is around. But Inkoom brings experience to bear and should play well. His speed in going forward and being a utility player will come in handy indeed, as Botswana also look mobile.

Coach Goran is going for Anthony Annan as a holder, with Agyemang-Badu ahead of him to start plays. It’s looking like Andre Ayew will play as a classic trequartista, as Kwadwo Asamoah will be benched. It’s a bold decision from the coach, but it will mark a new level lot of maturity if Andre impresses in the role.

Andre will have to be very fit, then, as he will be required assist in defensive duties should things get too hot. Isaac Vorsah will miss the game due to suspension. Adam Kwarasey, in his debut Nations Cup game, will need to be sharp in distribution, as he’ll be the first point of attack.

Prediction

Group D is arguably the toughest in the competition with Guinea and Mali as the other opponents. Botswana can spring a surprise, with their coach saying “an earthquake” will be caused. Don’t doubt him, his team was not named Team of Year last year for nothing. Predictions? Sorry.

Here’s a video of Ghana’s players doing the boogie last night. Heh.


Via GhanaFA

Hope we have a good game.

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Witchdoctor says Ghana will lose

African football is rife with stories of superstition and ahead of the Botswana game today, a medicine man has predicted Ghana will lose 2-1.

According to Botswana’s online news portal “The Voice”, the Zebras appear to have the gods on their side as the well-known 35-year old sangoma (or witchdoctor) has predicted. The traditional doctor, also called Snake Poison has boldly predicted a sensational victory in their Afcon debut.

The bold prediction appears to have the backing of world renowned Nigerian prophet TB Joshua, who in his sermon last Sunday forecast that the Black Stars of Ghana would lose 2-0 to a ‘small’ team in the Afcon. But how did “Snake Poison” come to the conclusion?

Methods

According to “The Voice”, Snake Poison sat his underground shrine, threw the bones three times to make sure that the message he was receiving was accurate. And then the results came: “We are going to win 2-1. The bones say that at half time it will be 1-1 and there will be injuries and misunderstandings, but I don’t know why. I think we are going to win the game against Ghana because they will look down upon us. I pray that this really comes true.”

He was asked what would happen in their second game against Guinea on 28th January. He said: “The bones say two different things, one says that we are going to win and the other says that it will be a draw. If we are going to win, we are going to struggle before scoring.”

“I see problems in the second game, we have a long road ahead of us, but the bones say we have potential.”

News of the final group game against Mali on 1 February was not so good for Botswana as a 2-0 loss was predicted. “I do not know what will happen exactly, but all I know is that we will be happy in the last moments.”

As always, the field will decide on Tuesday when the game kicks off at 1600GMT.

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