Sarpie to Make Return To Stars

Germany-based defender Hans Adu Sarpei is to return to the Black Stars to help solve the chronic left-back problems of the team.

Ghana has struggled to fill the position vacated by the Bayern Leverkusen player since the 2008 African Cup of Nations in his country.


But after falling out with previous coach Sellas Tetteh over treatment meted out to him the Germany-raised player has not been called. In his absence coach, Milovan Rajevac has tried several players in the position with minimum success.

Reliable sources close to the Ghana Football Association say Sarpei’s return was on the cards when the technical team met yesterday. With Ghana playing two important away matches in the World Cup qualifiers against Mali and Sudan, Ghana best defender at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations is set to return.

His presence will help end the problems as those away matches are expected to be very testing for the defenders of the national team.

It was argued at the meeting that Sarpei has the necessary experience to contain the storm likely to be unleashed by Mali’s experienced Jimmy Kebe on the right of their attack as well as Haitham Tambal of Sudan.


My Ultimate Comments:

Certainly, this is Ghana! Come to think of it. Why did Barrack Obama choose to visit our dearly loved country as his first stop in the Sub Saharan Region? Simple answer is : we are unreasonable (no hard feelings) and always think like the typical cottage man who shouts when he sees the rays that pour out from a TV set and when he notices the water vapor that comes out from the refrigerator.

We knew long before hand that Hans Adu Sarpie was the most experienced left back player in the Black Star team set up prior to the World Cup Qualifiers yet we had a difficulty allowing him to play. I would be ready to shut off this blog once you tell me someone who played better in out defense during the Ghana 2008 African Nations Cup. Lets bet on that! We are always oblivious of what is better for our national team just because we our local partisan teams support itch in our arguments.

So loud were the calls that Harrison Afful was better than he was and so deserved a place ahead of a player who plays in the German Bundes Liga. Now the same people, a replica of the ‘hosanna hosanna’ activists, are calling for his come back.

The better he gets into our national team, the better it would be for our chances to play in Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Soweto and Johannesburg.

Ghana To Base In Kenya

Ghana has lined up a camping base in Kenya before their World Cup clash against Sudan next month.

The Black Stars will travel to Mali to play the Eagles on June 6 in Bamako before taking on Sudan two weeks later. But the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has planned for a camping base in the East African country to help them acclimatize before the Khartoum clash.

The Black Stars will all but seal their place in the 2010World Cup in South Africa if they get good results in Bamako and Khartoum.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac and the GFA are keen on getting results in both matches to avoid the mathematics associated with qualifying on the back of the results from the last matches of the qualifiers.

The Serbian coach is expected to release a large squad for next month’s two matches, as some of his players are injury prone.

My Ultimate Comment:

Thumbs Up, Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi. The FA President has proven beyond evenhanded and perverse doubts that he is one of the best this country can ever heighten about.

With his steady approach to relevant issues concerning the Black Star cause, 22 millions Ghanaian are sure going to have a real taste of the soccer mundial in Germany. I am just hoping that the key member would support his futurist ideas and as well give support to our Serbian boos, Milovan Rajevac.

Great job, Kwesi Nyantakyi, Fred Pappoe, Randy Abbey and all the crew.

Tiero Eyes Stars' Return

Former Black Stars midfielder William Tierro is eyeing a return to the national team after making his 50th league appearance for Portuguese side Academica e Coimbra over the weekend.

The 29-year-old has been impressive since joining them two seasons ago and believes he has peaked at the right time to earn a Black Stars call-up.

He has scored some imperative goals for the mid-placed team this term.

He was an integral part of the Black Stars under Portuguese trainer Mariano Barreto and played during the Germany 2006 World Cup Qualifiers.

Academica is presently placed 7th on the Portuguese League table.


My Ultimate Comment:

I am a bit weary on the notion of whether to be glad over this piece of news or make a fair assessment of what my impressions are. Let me try out the two. Its always a day to remember when you reach the 50th cap milestone. Not many players in our generation make this great achievement taking into consideration their asinine and dim football lifestyles.

Remember the smiles and joyous moments Stephen Appiah exhibited when he hit this same landmark during our game against Senegal at the Craven Cottage Park in Fulham, England? I sure would bet with any betting syndicate that William is very delighted that he has reached this moment that could lead him to the Black Stars team. Is he indeed considering a return to the Black Star team? Sorry, Mr. Tierro.

I would be one of the sporting personalities that would squall on the radio airwaves, on my blog and in my column on My Ball Newspaper as to his inclusion when we have better players than him now who are not being given the chance by Monsieur Rajevac. Prince Buaben who plays for Aberdeen in the Clysdale Scottish Premier League should rather have that place. Maybe you haven’t had the chance to watch him play. A visit to YouTube would do your world a lot of good.

Black Day For Prince Tagoe

Black Stars forward Prince Tagoe' side Ettifaq ended their Asian Champions League Group D final clash on a disappointing note after a 3-0 loss to Iranian side Sepahan on Tuesday Night.

The former Hearts of Oak expert shooter was part of a second-rated performance from the Saudi side.

Ettifaq which had sealed top spot after winning four straight games fell behind just two minutes after the opening whistle when Mahdi Jafarpour's low cross from the right found Papi who fired home from close range with a left-footed shot.

Hadi Asghari and Hamid Azizzadeh wrapped up the win with second-half goals for the 2007 AFC Champions League runners-up.

The loss means Ettifaq could play compatriot Al Hilal in the last 16 if they beat Pakhtakor on Wednesday night.

Tagoe is the leading goal scorer in the competition with seven goals.

He will be crucial for the Black Stars combined 2010 qualifiers in June against Mali and Sudan.


My Ultimate Comment:

Doesn’t it seem nice wearing a grin hearing that one of your fellow citizens is making head waves in his chosen career?

Scoring gleaming goals that top charts of best goals of the week and winning goal of the season awards, skirmishing his way through the ''evils' of soccer that has been associated with the Arab world and the pride of our spellbinding Black Star team, the ''prince of goals'' surely is on his way to having a medal for his trophy cabinet.

He sure would love to lay his precious hands on the Asian Champions League trophy with his teammates of Ettifaq. I am somewhat blissful that he didnt score in this match. Hope he is saving his goals for ''the quest in Bamako''. Like the old Latin adage, ''better luck always awaits you at the next door''.

Wish Prince Tagoe all the best in his Middle East adventure.

Laryea Gives Milo a Glimmer of Hope

Injured Ghana midfielder Laryea Kingston will be on hand for the Black Stars when they take on Sudan on 20 June.

Doctors of his Scottish club have revealed that he will stay out of action for four weeks to recover from a hamstring injury.

This means he would have just recovered from the injury ahead of the Black Stars' clash with Mali on 6 June on Bamako.

Nevertheless, Kingston will be fit for the game in Khartoum, as he would have recovered to play a part in the World Cup qualifier.

“Doctors have ruled me out for four weeks so this means I have to start running from next week as it is already one week since the injury, “Kingston told Ghanasooccernet.com. It is not likely that I will play in the Mali game but I should be fit to face Sudan.”

It was feared the midfielder would not be available for Ghana for the crucial World Cup qualifiers. Kingston suffered the latest injury last week having recovered from a three-month injury-induced absence. His presence in the Black Stars will give Coach Milovan Rajevac the thrust needed in central midfield ahead of the two crucial away World Cup qualifiers next month.

My Ultimate Comment:

OMG! I don’t like the look on your face! I have a feeling you are fed up hearing about injuries creeping into the camp of our venerated Black Stars team. You must be biting you nails again hearing about this news knowing very well that Bra. Laryea (those Scots’ prefer to call him Larry: wondering if he has stopped eating ''komi'') is a long way from playing regularly. I am vexed so much about the Hearts of Midlothian midfielder (not at the player but his playing instincts) since he hasn’t had that much time to prove to the Tynecastle faithfuls of his talent. However, who else do I lay the blame on?

After such a promising start to his illustrious career, a reason why he was handed the reserved No.10 jersey after his first season, injuries have been his major setback giving room for doubt by the Hearst supporters who have began raising concerns over his match fitness level.

Watched him play for Team Ghana during the Zenith Four Nations Tournament at the Ohene Djan Stadium? If you did, then you sure want to see Laryea play against the teams that stand on our path to the grandeur and splendor lands of South Africa. Wish him all the best in his quest to get back to winning ways.''

"Exodus not killing our League"

The President of the Ghana Football Association has rubbished claims that the exodus of players from the local league is what is killing interest in the game as and the reason behind the low patronage at league centers.

Kwesi Nyantakyi was speaking at a one-day stakeholders meeting organized by the Ghana League Clubs Association in conjunction with the Premier League Board on Tuesday to win back the ''lost'' fans to League centers.

He believes the over concentration on the European Leagues is what has crippled the local game.

"The sudden craze for foreign leagues, particularly the English Premier League, has overtaken our local league and this phenomenon has crept slowly but dangerously into our football fans," Nyantakyi said.

"The local league has produced a lot of good players, but if the media doesn't give them publicity it will be impossible attract the fans to the various stadia."

Credit:Ghanasoccernet

May 9th Remembered!. Never again

The Accra Sports Stadium disaster which took away 127 lives is the worst stadium disaster to have taken place in Africa. May 9th! What this date now represent MUST alter our lives, our nation, our sport and our passion after a period when the whole nation were plunged into grief,pain,tears and untold sorrow.

For many, the incident has illustrated the dangers of old stadiums, unprepared policing and inadequate security protocols. While stadium security has been improved in other parts of the world where disasters were once common,our officials have not sufficiently addressed the problem. We seem in the dark as we view up decisions to make for another disaster. Stadium disasters— whether they are caused by stampedes, fan violence, collapsing stadium structures or other reasons—have been an untoward part of soccer in all parts of our beloved country for over a century. I was at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi to watch the local rivalry game between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak and the scenes that rolled up right in front of my eyes were just reminiscent of a country who inst ready to learn. Angry Kotoko fans threw plastic bottles onto the pitch and destroyed one of the gates of the stand in their match against Sporting Mirren at the Ohene Djan Stadium in a case which clearly tells of our lackluster way to learn from debacles .

It surely isn't worth crying over split milk with regards to the May 9th incident. Whats the forward you might be tempted to ask? We must be inspired by altruistic acts of courage. We must sustain our munificence in reaching out to those affected by this tragedy. We must continue to teach the attitudes of respect, fairness and tolerance that call us to reject odium, revenge and violence. Let us rededicate ourselves to this cause. Our nation has endured trials, and we face an intricate road ahead.

Let us lead Ghana football into an unblemished age of great forbearance and tolerance.