August 16th 2011 10:49
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O.M. SMITH
KUMASI, GHANA
Joined August 8th 2011
Number of Posts:
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WANT A DIFFERENT OPINION ON FOOTBALL?... I HAVE IT
- About Me
- a A UNIVERSITY OF GHANA POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT WHO IS MARRIED TO FOOTBALL.
Recent Posts African Footballers In European ColoursAugust 10th 2011 20:12
Though there is no sure winning formula in this sport, success is made more likely in football when a squad has genuine talent through and through. The search for such gifted footballers has never seemed to be a respecter of boundaries. Many national sides have in their bid to dominate continental and world football called upon the best of football talents no matter where they were born or to whom.
The Real Madrid great, Alfredo Di Stefano represented Argentina, Columbia then Spain at different points in his illustrious career. Ferenc Puskas, largely considered the global benchmark in goalkeeping, donned the national colours of his native Hungary first then later Spain. FIFA, seeing this growing trend as worrisome, during its 33rd Congress held in Santiago, Chile in 1962, for the first time, drew up rules to ensure that changing nationality in football was not as easy as swapping jerseys. Notwithstanding the rules and the changes that have been made to them over the years, the trend has stood the test of time. In recent history, The Netherlands have capped the Surinamese contingent; Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Frank Kluivert et al yielding amazing results. The two continents at the wrong end of this phenomenon seem to be Africa and South America. Both continents get more of their nationals naturalized than any other and also are the least interested in fielding footballers of other descents in their ranks. By every measure, Africa seems to have lost out the most in these exchanges because while the Latin Americans naturalize to play for other countries because they may not be good enough to elicit a call-up to their national teams, their African counterparts are largely pursued and even begged to play for their African homelands but bluntly turn down the opportunity. The Netherlands and France clearly have benefited the most from this arrangement. This is probably due to their successes as countries at integrating African immigrants into their societies. In July 2007, Fred Pappoe, the Vice President of the Ghana FA declared to BBC Sport; "We are combing every corner of the globe to bring our players home to avoid the mistakes of the past. The local scene will continue to produce great players like [Stephen] Appiah, Essien and Muntari but we have our other sons abroad who need to join up. This will ensure that Ghana will reclaim its position as the force in African football and soon world football. The chase by African countries to get skillful footballers of African descent but born or bred in Europe to play for them could be very cagy especially when the potential of the player in question seems astonishing. More often than not, the very best of such players do not opt to play for African countries. It is the disappointment and frustrations of such a situation that pushed the former Black Stars coach, Milovan Rajevac to retort after Mario Balotelli snubbed Ghana; "We are partly to blame. In the past, we made him [Balotelli] look like our messiah and saviour. We kept going after him with high powered delegations All these made it seem as though there won't be any Black Stars without him. But that is not true. As long as I continue to be the coach of the Black Stars, Mario will never get to play for my team. The reasons why some of the very best African youngsters choose to snub their roots to play rather for European sides are varied. "I grew up amid a Senegalese culture at home but we became Westernized very quickly and when I had to choose between playing for Senegal or France my father told me to follow my heart. I opted for France, as that was where I had grown up ─ Patrice Evra. "I have never felt Ghanaian. My parents come from Ghana but I don't know anything about that country. I have never thought of playing for Ghana, neither do I have any inclination towards the team. It is Italy or no other country." Mario Balotelli "Playing for the Netherlands or Morocco would be an honor for me (but) playing for the Dutch team will also be good for my development as a player." ─ Ibrahim Afellay. "France was the obvious one in front of me and Ghana was not organized enough for me to think of becoming Ghanaian as a football player." ─ Marcel Desailly "I've been playing for England at every single youth-team level so it's kind of a natural progression just moving to the seniors. It's a bittersweet moment. I've got love for both countries. I can't play for both." ─ Danny Welbeck. On the flip side, some of these players who choose to play for European countries have through their breathtaking performances, made all of Africa very proud. They are ambassadors of Africa no matter which colours they play in. Several years back, it would have been unthinkable for Germany to call up black players into their national teams but in the last three World Cups, Germany has fielded Gerald Asamoah, David Odonkor and Jerome Boateng all of African descent. These days, Mario Balotelli is playing for the Azzurris; a script that would have been unprintable some years back in Italy. These feats surpass football. They send a positive message about Africa; its immense human resources that largely remain untapped. Wouldnt it have been awesome to see the likes of Balotelli and Welbeck lead the attack lines of the Ghana Black Stars alongside Asamoah Gyan or to have Lassana Diarra, Aly Cissokho, and Alou Diarra linking up with Seidu Keita, Frederick Kanoute and Moumodou Diarra in Mali colours? Notwithstanding; Africa will forever consider the likes of Eusebio, Zidane, Desailly, Vieira, Makelele, the Mpenzas, Olisadebe etc. as some of its most faithful servants. These gifted sons of Africa played for Africa though in European colours. Forget about the beard, every father is still someones child.
8 QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMUNITY SHIELD LEFT US WITHAugust 8th 2011 20:43
1. WAS VIEIRA BORN TO ALWAYS BE IN THE FACE OF UNITED?
Patrick Vieira for nine years at Arsenal was a sharp thorn in the flesh of Man United. His long-running bust-ups with former United captain, Roy Keane was epic. After an average stint in the Italian Serie A, Vieira returned to the EPL to play for no other club than Manchester City, Uniteds arch rivals. Even in retirement, Vieira is still on Citys payroll. He was Citys guest of honor on Sunday and I bet he was hoping to once more see an array of distraught men in red shirts after referee Phil Dowds final whistle. 2. IS DE GEA WORTH £18M? Van De Gea was taught the never say die spirit of his new club the hard way. Being the most expensive keeper in the history of the EPL, DDGs blunders will always be overemphasized. His reflexes looked quite suspect in both of Citys goals. The £18m mans second half performance was sensational but he is still not a sure bet to successfully fill his predecessors huge boots. 3. ISNT WENGER A GENIUS FOR SELLING GAEL CLICHY? Clichy courted unimpressive displays throughout last season for Arsenal and a better part of the season before. He is fast losing his old self; short on pace and on confidence plus being highly indecisive. The new Man City left backs perplexing decision not to latch on to a harmless Wayne Rooney half-volley clearance in the 93rd minute when he could have easily done so leading to Uniteds winning goal is a signal that Clichys best days may now be behind him. ArseneWenger finally got something right in the transfer market. 4. WHY MUST IT ALWAYS BE A LATE WINNER? Since City became oil-rich, United have developed a knack for engaging them in extremely cagey games and leaving the winning goal till late. Michael Owen and Scholes did it to them two seasons ago. Rooney did it that same season in the Carling Cup. Rooneys overhead winner last season did not come early either. Then Nani did it again on Sunday. Is it that City are simply unlucky or the concentration levels of their players cannot last over 95 minutes of fast-paced football action or is it a problem with Mancinis tactics or are United just too good? 5. DO UNITED REALLY NEED SNEIJDER? After the first half, though United had controlled the game, one really felt that they still lacked that string-puller in the middle of the park like Wesley Sneijder. Carrick in the second half was taken out and Cleverley joined Anderson in central midfield. That was when the game was turned on its head in favour of the Red Devils. The duo similarly did great for United in their win against Barcelona during pre-season. I bet that after this game many United faithfuls might question their clubs pursuit of Sneijder. Should they spend in excess of £35m when the men to fill Scholes void may already be in their backyard. One cannot help but wish that the duo can be left to play together to blossom but talent never means consistency. 6. DID FERGIE REALLY SAY IT WAS A FRIENDLY? Sir Alex said he was going to treat the match just like another pre-season friendly; City or no City. Uniteds starting line-up betrayed Fergies indication. When United were down by two goals in a supposed friendly, why did Fergies face cast that worried picture that has been familiar to Wembley over Uniteds last two visits there? When at the start of the second half, Fergie took out Vidic, Ferdinand and Carrick, it looked as if Fergie really meant his words but Sir Alexs elation that greeted Uniteds winning goal looked like one that is reserved for those days when a real knockout punch is dealt a noisy neighbor. 7. CAN CITY BE SERIOUS TITLE CONTENDERS WITHOUT TEVEZ? On Sunday, City lacked everything that has made United what they have been over the years. They lacked leaders on the pitch, teamwork and sheer passion. City might have the names in attack but none is or can be better than Tevez, that man who wants to leave the club. Silva is my man but cannot do it alone. Dzeko is not on top of how the EPL is played. Balotelli fizzles out of games way too easily. Adebayor and Bellamy, two players who fight for the team are unwanted by Mancini. Aguero is the new star talent in town just like Dzeko was but does he have the broad shoulders to carry Man City when the going gets tough like Tevez has done for two seasons now. 8. WHO SAYS ENGLISH FOOTBALL IS HEADING FOR THE GALLOWS? The Community Shield proved that the best of English football might lie well ahead of it not behind. In all, 14 English players got to be in the game and it was the youngsters amongst them that stole the show i.e. Rooney, Young, Hart, Richards, Welbeck, Smalling, Jones, Cleverley and Adam Johnson. Brazil 2014 could be interesting for the Three Lions.
8 QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMUNITY SHIELD LEFT US WITHAugust 8th 2011 20:40
1. WAS VIEIRA BORN TO ALWAYS BE IN THE FACE OF UNITED?
Patrick Vieira for nine years at Arsenal was a sharp thorn in the flesh of Man United. His long-running bust-ups with former United captain, Roy Keane was epic. After an average stint in the Italian Serie A, Vieira returned to the EPL to play for no other club than Manchester City, Uniteds arch rivals. Even in retirement, Vieira is still on Citys payroll. He was Citys guest of honor on Sunday and I bet he was hoping to once more see an array of distraught men in red shirts after referee Phil Dowds final whistle.
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