Kevin Prince-Boateng, bear the Ghanaian brunt!

They are at it again. The armchair doom-mongers who glance at a decision, without seeing its coherent reasoning, and make a snap judgement about a person's choice. The locals are again hauling over coals on another character. Kevin-Prince Boateng is the latest to bear the harsh and often punitive brunt of the Ghanaian populace.

Having being injured playing for Milan, he sent an email to the Ghana Football Association to seek a no-appearance for Ghana’s date with Sudan at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. Then the doubters rose from toe to top their flags waving that the young chap was taking us for a cheap ride. Some have been quick in jumping to the gun: 'when he wanted to show up at the World Cup after Germany rejected him, he quickly accepted an invitation to play for us. Now that his market value has skyrocketed for excellent showing at the mundial, he’s now trying to play “hanky-panky” games with us."

These fans are a fervent lot and seem more comfortable when consumed with a player’s pledge to the country, rather than euphoria sometimes. All they want is for a player to lace his boots with pride and play with sheer passion even through the pain barrier. Put your egos and medical concerns aside and play to their glare. You’ll hit an instant hero status if such is done. One wrong turn with your commitment though and you keep your eyes peeled for some fireworks. Or get ready to be shoved into the soccer-version of the Chile mines.

From casual football watchers to the most passionate of soccer devotees, Ghanaians have descended on Kevin’s actions and questioned his commitment to the national cause. They did same with Michael Essien when he decided to be relieved off his duties for the Black Stars albeit temporarily due to injuries yet met the ridicule and scorn of the soccer-loving fan. They simply take not even precious berries compared to your commitment level. For now, you might want to suggest that Kevin understands the drive that comes with playing for Ghana. The locals take nothing to showing pride in the national colours and being committed.

So here’s to those who questioned his commitment. And slapped him with the avaricious tag. 'There was no misunderstanding (with the Ghana FA). After the league game I felt a bit of pain on my hamstring” Boateng said. “So I decided not to go (for the game against Sudan) because I was not 100 percent fit. “For me there was no misunderstanding. There was an email to the Ghana Football Association that I can’t travel and I can’t play. “So for me it was clear and I stayed in Milan and I trained.”

Emphatic enough answer for me. We don’t need another one of our star players stressing their muscles in light of longevity for Ghana, especially when they are not fully fit. It was reverent enough of him to inform the GFA of his problem avoiding the shameful egregious snobbish stunt. I am sure if fully fit he’d have played against Sudan in Kumasi. For now, let’s spare him all the blatant, inane and inconsiderate insults. Really, we don’t want another Essien vacation; we can’t just meet the expense of it.

African Strikers to win Golden Boot Award?

African strikers hardly get a mention when the World Cup Golden boot previews are done. This is largely a result of the past awards being dominated by Europeans and South Americans, because African teams hardly go far in the tournament.

However this time around the event will be hosted in Africa for the first time and there are hopes that an African team would get to the semi-finals, maybe even lift the trophy. That creates a realistic chance for an African marksman to be up there with the world's deadliest finishers.

The continent's top contender Didier Drogba has seen his chances slashed by half after sustaining a right hand ulna fracture that will keep him out of Cote d'Ivoire's first two games.

Who then are the other top contenders?

In Drogba's absence, Samuel Eto'o is the plausible next best. Though the Lion has only managed one goal in two World Cup finals, he is quite capable of mixing it with the best if Cameroon give him adequate service.

Another possible contender is Ghana's Asamoah Gyan. Gyan scored Ghana's first ever World Cup goal, an effort against the Czech Republic that was also the fastest goal of Germany 2006. With Milovan Rajevac expected to stick with his defensive approach, the Black Stars will be playing for Gyan to do the damage.

Drogba undoubtedly is a big loss to the Elephants, but the striking options left are quiet formidable like Aruna Dindane, Gervinho and Salomon Kalou. Dindane outscored Drogba in Germany, while Gervinho netted 13 goals for Lille last season. Kalou finished the season strongly, including a hat-trick against Stoke City in the penultimate league game.

South Africa's 'Killer' Katlego is peaking at the right moment following six goals in Bafana Bafana's last five friendlies leading to the mundial. If he keeps up that form he could become a South African, and global legend.

Nigeria and Algeria do not seem to have any candidates. Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni could surprise for the Super Eagles though, while Siena's Abdelkader Ghezzal may be the key man in the Algerian squad.

There will be no room for slouching as the world's fiercest finishers join the party. Top candidates for the Golden Boot from outside the continent include, Luis Fabiano [Brazil], Fernando Torres, David Villa [Spain] 2006 winner Miroslav Klose [Germany], Wayne Rooney, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez and the mighty Lionel Messi.

credit: africaplays

South Africa 2010: Africa's time for glory?

The setting is unique but a succession of pre-tournament injuries and the lessons of past World Cups outside Europe suggest the football at Africa's first finals will resonate to familiar Latin rhythms.

A month-long tournament that starts at Soccer City in Soweto on Friday when South Africa play Mexico will look and feel different from any other World Cup - and sound different too thanks to the cacophonous din of vuvuzela trumpets.

The sensation is that anything is possible in such a vast country with such differences in altitude and temperature but every World Cup outside Europe to date has been won by a South American team and with medical bulletins providing bad news for European and African challengers the pattern may continue. Can Africa change that trend?

Nigeria's 3:1 win over North Korea finished off the final preparation games of Africa's contingent to the first World Cup hosted on the continent's soil in some style.

It was a good scorecard for the Nigerians who face two-time world champions Argentina in six days, and indeed Africa's six-pack, who recorded five wins to one loss in their final friendlies.

Hosts South Africa got some measure of respect after they saw off Denmark by a lone goal, for their 12th game without defeat since the return of Brazilian gaffer Carlos Parreira.

With 'Killer' Katlego Mphela on target yet again, one is tempted to say who needs Benni? Confidence is sky high, as it should be in the Rainbow nation, with the quadrennial international's opener just five days away.


Algeria finally stopped the bleeding after four losses on the bounce, when they beat the UAE by a lone goal. With England and the USA waiting, African fans will hope coach Rabah Saadane is on top of his game when he says the friendlies do not reflect the true strength of his team.

Ghana delivered an impressive response to a 4:1 mauling by the Netherlands when a late Quincy Owusu-Abeyie screamer meant they beat Latvia 1:0, and head to South Africa with renewed zeal.

Milovan Rajevac leads his side against Serbia on June 13, with Australia and Germany to follow. The Serb has a decision to make; whether to run with the youthful core marshaled by Udinese's Kwadwo Asamoah that has brought him much success, or the older, more experienced, but less fluid core led by captain Stephen Appiah that crumbled under the Oranje.


Cote d'Ivoire had a splendid win over Japan marred by the arm injury to its skipper Didier Drogba, who may miss the early games of the tournament.

Regrettably the Ivorians face the dreaded duo of Portugal and Brazil in their first two games. Doubly unfortunate is that Drogba had scored twice in the Elephants two friendlies and was looking good to do some real damage at the mundial.


Eriksson remains confident, as well he should, with plenty of fire power still, from the likes of Aruna Dindane, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho and Romaric.

Cameroon were the only team to record a loss after a seven-goal thriller with Serbia in Belgrade. The Lions lost 4:3, but it was a match they could have won.

Skipper Samuel Eto'o was suspended after a red card in the midweek friendly against Portugal, and Achille Webo and the young Eric Choupo-Moting stepped up to the plate.

Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen is confident his team will make the round of 16, albeit by finishing second to the Dutch, but the Lions look solid enough to hold off the Danes and the Japanese.

Bafana Bafana kicks off Africa's challenge on Friday against Mexico. It will be a match that in all probability will set the tone for the hosts' as well as the continent's charge.

If recent performances are a benchmark, then it is looking like it could be one helluva charge afterall.

credit: Kenneth Ezaga, Rediff sports

Top-notch Black Stars News

Black Star goalie, Richard Kingston has threatened to feign injury on the premise that he’s younger brother, Laryea Kingston, has been omitted from the 23-man squad for South Africa plus Bologna midfielder Stephen Appiah has complained of thigh injury as the Stars prepare for Holland match. The shocks just began! Watch out for this space.

Is Africa ready for the world?

Africa's Year at FIFA looks set for a grandstand finish in South Africa from June 11 - July 11. Finally the world gets to experience the quintessential football treat, that has been four years in coming.

This completes a quartet of Africa-hosted Fifa tournaments spanning June 2009 to June 2010. They are the Confederations Cup in South Africa, the U-20 World Cup in Egypt, the U-17 World Cup in Nigeria, and now the bill-topping quadrennial showpiece in South Africa.

So far Africa has grabbed its chance with both hands. Host South Africa were fourth in the Confed Cup, Ghana won the continent's first ever U-20 title, while Nigeria came up just short in the final match of the U-17 tournament.

Without a doubt the World Cup is the mother-of-all-battles. It is the first time it is being staged in Africa and the first time the continent will have six representatives.

But is the continent finally ready for the big prize?

ALGERIA

Les Fennecs have arguably the easiest draw of the African teams. However an unimpressive Nations Cup campaign, injury concerns, a poor finish to the season by key players, and a lame 3:0 bashing by Ireland in a Dublin friendly recently, have not inspired much confidence in Rabah Saadane and his troops.


CAMEROON

Lacking a creative playmaker and a resolute defence, Paul Le Guen's Lions have struggled to impose themselves on games lately. A poor Nations Cup, followed by two lame 0:0 draws against Italy and Georgia, as well as new infighting between Eto'o and Milla can't bode well for the team.



COTE D'IVOIRE

A rude awakening at the Nations Cup jolted perennial underachievers Ivory Coast to pull the emergency lever. Sven-Goran Eriksson replaced Halilhodzic as boss, and Romaric was recalled to fill a playmaking void. The challenge lies in getting the Didier Drogba-led squad of megastars to play for one another, and thankfully, the sounds are encouraging.


GHANA

The injury problems are back. Michael Essien is out, and his likely replacement Agyemang-Badu, and defender John Mensah are a worry. Ghana missed seven first team regulars to injury at the Nations Cup, but still made the final. The World Cup will be a different ball game. The return of the regulars and addition of new talents like Boateng, Tagoe and Owusu-Abeyie will help.


NIGERIA

A wobbly ride to bronze at the Nations Cup didn't win the Super Eagles any plaudits. Swedish coach Lars Lagerback was brought in to clean up the mess, but is faced with shambolic preparations and unfit players. For neutrals, indeed all, but the rabid optimists, it does not look too bright for the Eagles, but a relatively kind draw could help.





SOUTH AFRICA

Carlos Parreira has managed to steady, and redirect, a rudderless boat headed for the rocks. Since taking over in November the team has been unbeaten, but has yet to face real opposition. With a soft defence and a blunt attack, Bafana Bafana will need its big heart, and the vuvuzelas, to make the desired impact.

What's your take on Africa's chances in South Africa?

Africa is sending forth, what in my self-effacing view, is the most enlightening squad it can muster at this time to the World Cup. All six teams – Ghana, Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria and South Africa, have exceptional players, enormous experience and would invariably see South Africa as ‘home’. I personally cannot see any of these teams not milking in the second round glory. However that's me! What's your analysis of the teams to South Africa and how far do you think they can go?

Can Ghana Make Africa Proud?

The Black Stars took the continent aback when they made the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Now everyone in Africa is looking to the Stars to buy the continent some admirable glory in South Africa. The World Cup is a different kettle of fish and many of the slip-ups the Stars opponents made in Angola will not be repetitive in South Africa. Ghana must also find some aggressive legs, because its attack seems its missing link at the moment. There are also some injury concerns to key players still. All considered, how far do you think the Stars can travel at the World Cup?