Essien Arrives in Angola

 

Why the skeptism and rather boorish talk? A large section of the Ghanaian soccer cult have raised questions over the "Matador's" commitment and I somewhat share in their sentiments but why the blame-game towards Essien at this crucial moment? The young man in my unadulterated thoughts comes clean in this case. It was an agreement between our FA and the Chelsea technical team to delay his trip to Angola since they all felt that it would be better for everyone if Essien stayed behind to continue his recovery.

My predictions for the game? Ghana is flawlessly going to win the match against Ivory Coast by a lone goal.. bet?


Ghana have received a major boost at the African Cup of Nations after midfield dynamo Michael Essien arrived in Angola on Wednesday for the tournament.

Bad weather in Britain prevented the Chelsea ace from joining his team mates in Cabinda on Monday.

But he was alble to catch a direct flight from London on Tuesday night - arriving in the host nation on Wednesday morning.

This means he will be available to feature for the Black Stars in Friday's game against Ivory Coast in Group B.

Ghana's first scheduled game was cancelled in the wake of the attacks on the Togo team.

The Chelsea midfielder has returned to fitness after suffering a hamstring injury that would have kept him out of that game.

Ghana, along with Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, will only play two games in the group stage.

The freezing conditions in Britain led to much of the weekend's football being postponed.

credit: Ghanasoccernet

Essien to Miss Togo Match

This is some white baloney! First he comes off with a late introduction into the team, has a Chelsea doctor coming down to monitor his situation, would miss our first game againt the Hawks. Now that's something up the sleeves of the 2008 BBC African Footballer of the Year Award. The coach should probably have dropped Essien too from the squad (I call his inclusion because we are left with little experience in the team), because it's becoming clear that he doesn't want to feature in the tournament after he wrote a letter to GFA & the coach asking why his buddy (Muntari) was axed. Essien intentions are very obvious. This kind of game must cease; how can you report to camp two days prior to a major tournament, citing bias reasons for your delay? All this indiscipline and ungrateful players must be dropped to allow the youngsters, determined, disciplined and the hungry ones to take up the mantle. At least, they sent pundits and betting power houses the wrong turn during the Under-20 mundial in Egypt by winning the ultimate laurel. A look of confidence they show, are passionate and hungry to make history!



Ghana midfielder Michael Essien will miss the Black Stars opening African Cup of Nations clash with Togo on Monday even though he had a full training session with Chelsea yesterday.
According to reports in the English media, Essien will definitely miss the Black Stars clash with the Hawks because he has yet to regain full match fitness.

The revelation seems to come from his English side Chelsea but Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac and Black Stars doctors will decide whether to leave out Essien for the game.

Even though the enforcer is doubtful for the Togo clash Chelsea sources told the Times he is aiming to be fully fit in time to face his Chelsea team-mate, Didier Drogba, when his side meet Ivory Coast four days later.

The influential midfielder took part in a full session in the snow at the club’s training ground in Cobham, Surrey on Wednesday but will join Ghana in Angola.

Essien (27), will be accompanied to Angola by a Chelsea doctor on Saturday who will be monitoring his progress to ensure that he doesn’t suffer from any further strains.

The midfielder is yet to regain full match fitness after tearing a hamstring in a Champions League match against Apoel last month, but he hopes to play some part in the tournament.

Essien’s prolonged absence is compounded by the fact that John Obi Mikel is also in Angola with Nigeria, leaving Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti with a shortage of defensive midfield players.

Ghana will have to finish among the top two in Group B where they face Togo, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso to be able to advance to the second phase of the tournament.

Ghana's Squad Depleted for Nations Cup

May be depleted, but definitely solidified and really in-depth. I must say am quite surprised with Ghana's selection; opting to leave Essien till so late a time, opting out of the likes of Muntari (good players have sometimes a torrid time with displine and tactical awareness and Sulley isnt any different) and Kevin-Prince Boateng (some pretty doggy and lousy official work denied the midfield gem of representing our colours).. You might augur out loud that Ghana are a hoax... and completely disappointed in them. Some pundits and mouthy critics have said ''with this coach at current disposition, they're going nowhere except stuff happens.. An iota of truth I might share with such talks, however, am with them all the way in a spirit of patriotism.



Ghana has been presented a depleted squad for next week's African Cup of Nations after FOUR key Black Stars were left out because of injuries.

The four-time champions have presented a squad dominated by the country's U20 World Cup winning squad to the Confederation of African Football (Caf). Deputy captain John Mensah was last player to be left out of the original squad named by coach Milovan Rajevac for the tournament in Angola on Thursday. A day earlier another first-choice player John Pantsil opted out of the tournament because of a knee injury he suffered while playing for English side Fulham. The Black Stars have been ravaged by injuries as key players Stephen Appiah and Laryea Kingston were already been ruled out of the tournament.

The fitness of Anthony Annan and Michael Essien is also in doubt as they would have just recovered from injuries when the tournament starts on 10 January. Ghana will be relying on youngsters to fly its flag at the tournament where they face giants Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Togo in Group B. Goalkeeper Daniel Agyei, Samuel Inkoom, Jonathan Mensah, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Opoku Agyemang, Dominic Adiyiah and Ransford Osei were all part of Ghana U20 World Cup winning team.The Black Stars were among the favourites for the tournament but with the injury problems they have been reduced to mere also-rans for the tournament.

While there are doubts over the youngsters in the squad others think they can use their experiences to stun teams at the tournament.

Muntari Issues Apology to Ghanaians

Every decision and action have consequences. Muntari, GFA and the coach's action all have consequences. However, the right thing is what has been done for the future of the Black Stars and the consequences need to be faced whatever it may be. It suffices to say that his apology has been long over due. Was he testing the pulse of the coach, FA and the nation? Anyway better late than never. He should be forgiving but his inclusion needs to be thought through because of his repeated indisciplinary records and the setting of precedence. Muntari might have erred, but he has apologized.. and that's what is needed most!




Inter midfielder Sulley Ali Muntari has issued a grovelling apology to the people of Ghana and vowed his commitment to the Black Stars in the wake of his recent axing from the team.

Muntari also expressed his contrition to the coach of Ghana Milovan Rajevac and the management of the Ghana Football Association following recent events.

But the enforcer insists the recent events leading to his exclusion from the Black Stars is as a result of a "break in communication" and is keen on setting the records straight.

"I must first and foremost apologise to the people of Ghana, the coach Mr. Rajevac and the Ghana Football Association," Muntari told Ghanasoccernet in an exclusive interview.

"As the child in this matter my first point to apologise before explaining recent events which have led to this misunderstanding.

"My commitment first is to my country and the people and I want to assure Ghanaians that I am fully committed to the country which has made me who I am.

"I also want to assure Ghanaians, the coach and the GFA that I am not disobedient as a section of the media has painted me.

“I accept that if I had been proactive by telling the media my side of the story this perception would not have pervaded among the public

"On the specific issues that have been raised in various quarters it is fair that I address it between the coach, myself and the Ghana FA.

“I will soon seek audience with my coach to hear his concerns about me and to bring the matter to a full closure.

“My concentration is to return to the national team as soon as possible and return to doing my utmost best for my country.”

Even though Muntari has been accused of unruly behaviour when on national team duty, the Inter Milan says he is completely misunderstood.

“I am a very private and quiet person. I don’t say much but I have realised that when rumours go unanswered people tend to believe,” he said.

“I give my coaches, my colleagues, the management and the people of Ghana my utmost respect. I am an obedient and God fearing person and would not veer into being a recalcitrant.”

Muntari insists he will continue to play for Ghana and will do everything to return to the fold of the Black Stars despite his recent axing.

“My country has given me a lot in my career and I will never turn up to play for my country half-heartedly,” Muntari said.

“As I have done in the past I will continue to play forGhana with my heart and soul to bring joy to the millions of our fans.”

Rajevac left out Muntari out of his 23-man squad for the tournament in Angola where they play Ivory Coast, Togo and Burkina Faso in Group B.

Ghana Squad for Nations Cup

Ghana squad

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan, England), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals, Ghana), Philemon McCarthy (Hearts of Oak, Ghana)

Defenders: John Paintsil (Fulham, England), Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Samuel Inkoom (Basel, Switzerland) Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland) Isaac Vorsah (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany) John Mensah (Sunderland, England), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea, Ghana) Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt) Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Sampdoria, Italy), Opoku Agyemang (Al Sadd, Qatar) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy) Moussa Narry (Auxerre, France) Andre Ayew (Arles-Avagnon, France)

Attackers: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland) Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (Fredrikstad FK, Norway) Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia)

Absentees will lose CAF Awards

Absentees will lose CAF Awards? This is ridiculous if not pure, unadulterated, sour stupidity. This is an insult to the likes of Frederic Kanoute who won the award on basis that the actual winner did not pitch. Players who accept the accolade under such circumstances will never be fully acknowledged by soccer loving people since that dark cloud will always be hanging above their heads. As for what happened last year, my candid opinion is that CAF deliberately held the awards ceremony while the AFCON was taking place at a different country and expected players to leave their team camps to attend the awards. This is pure madness and is one of those ridiculous issues that make one to be ashamed of being an African.. That absentees who genuinely deserve their award will be stripped of their award is absolutely daft.

Absentee nominees from the CAF Awards Gala in February will automatically lose their awards, even if they win, CAF has said.
Director of Communications Suleiman Habuba reiterated the condition at the unveiling of the final shortlist of five for the 2009 awards ceremony.

In 2008, Frederick Kanoute was handed the African Player of the Year Award after Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who was believed to have received the most votes, opted against turning up.

"Anybody who does not show up, will not be given any award," Suleiman said at the unveiling ceremony on Thursday in Lagos.

This 2009 edition of the Awards Gala will hold in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, organisers announced on Thursday in Lagos.

Since being taken over by Nigerian telecommunications firm Globacom, the award has been held in Lagos, Accra and Lome.

Courtesy: kickoff.com

Mario Balotelli for Black Stars?

There is no doubt Ballotelli is a great player given his mercurial artifice, but he'll only be a great addition to the Black stars on the condition that he deals with his class indiscipline, and augment his egregious character with a touch of that saintly humility. If he is to play for Ghana then we must be ready to shoulder with him the uncouth braggadocios and criticisms that will ensue. We must remember he is young and a bit naive, and also stitched on the stench of the amalgam of arrogance and inglorious pride. We do not need more Muntari-like attitudes, but want passion, patriotism and ability. I like him as a footballer, but Ghana needs more than a footballer. We need the exemplary kind to kindle buoyancy and unity within the team and to uplift the spirit of Ghanaians and the hopes of Africans..


Ghana captain Stephen Appiah says he backs moves by head coach Milovan Rajevac to lure Italian-born Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli for their World Cup campaign, urging the youngster to answer the call.

The Bologna midfielder comments have confirmed an Italian newspaper report claiming the Serbian trainer had line-up talks with the burgeoning talent.



"I am very much in favour of it," the 29-year-old La Gazzetta dello Sport.



"Although I do have to say that I don’t know anything about this. And I am not aware that our manager Rajevac is set to travel to Bologna to speak about it with me nor that I am supposed to take him to Milan to persuade Mario.



"I have come to know about it in the press and I have no basis to confirm the news."



"Ghana are already strong, but they would be even more with Mario," continued Appiah.



"We want to do well in South Africa and why should we throw away the chance to have a player like Balotelli with us?



"We would be happy if Balotelli came in to give us a hand. He has already proved his worth around Europe and has developed an important experience despite his young age."