The Black Stars’ date with Sudan this Saturday in a World Cup/Africa Cup qualifying match quickly brings to mind a similar fixture in Omdurman eight years ago as both nations were seeking a place on board the 2002 Japan/ Korea World Cup and Cup of Nations in Mali.

On February 25 2001 in Omdurman, Sudan beat the Black Stars 1-0 in the third fixture of the qualifying series. Stars goalie Sammy Adjei, under pressure had caught the ball outside the box and the resultant free-kick won the day for Sudan.

Those who believe that soccer repeats itself are not surprised at the similarities surrounding Saturday’s match and the previous encounter eight years ago. In 2001, Ghana began the series with two matches against West African neighbours Sierra Leone and Liberia before moving up north to face Sudan. And this year too, Ghana has had two ties against West African states Benin and Mali before facing Sudan once again. It had been a whirlwind start for the Black Stars in 2001 with a resounding 5-0 win over Sierra Leone and even though Liberia won the second match 3-1, Ghana was still considered a threat to outclass Sudan in the third match.

In similar circumstances this year, Ghana has started the series with convincing performances against Benin and Mali and if the form guide is anything to go by then the Stars should be able to account for Sudan despite the rather humid Sudanese weather at this time of the year.

The good news for Ghana is Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac has managed to instill a lot of confidence in his new look team with players like Kwadwo Asamoah, Papa Arko, Prince Tagoe, Matthew Amoah playing with much more poise and buoyed with the defty touches of high profile Michael Essien, the Black Stars are now as solid as a rock.

Coach Milovan Rajevac

Rajevac’s philosophy that “it is far better telling players what they can do well rather than what they can’t do well” is reaping good dividends. Team spirit is high and if they play like they did against Mali the other day, they can survive the Sudan hurdle and would have had one foot already in South Africa 2010 by the end of the first round of the qualifying series.

Coach Rajevac’s philosophy appears similar to those of newly signed on Herbert Addo of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, who has been able to transform the fast sinking club to winning ways. I prefer to tag him the Guus Hiddink of Ghana, the famous Dutch coach who brought sanity into the style of play of English club Chelsea after Scolari had been sacked for inconsistency. Hiddink, with the same ingredients moulded Chelsea into a terrific force and they eventually won the FA Cup just missing the European Champions League final through a blundering Norwegian referee.

Herbert Addo has within four weeks on assumption of office, and with the same set of players transformed Asante Kotoko much to the disbelief of a large number of the most fanatical supporter of the club. Three straight wins and one away draw in four matches is the proud record of Coach Addo so far and this has brought back the crest fallen Kotoko fans into the stands. Ironically, close rivals Accra Hearts of Oak who set a blistering pace in the first round and could have been declared Champions long ago if they had maintained their poise, are now gradually losing their rhythm. This has somewhat thrown the race open and pretenders like Heart of Lions and King Faisal are giving quite a chase that should lead to a stormy finish as the competition enters the home stretch with seven more matches to go.

This weekend, Real Tamale United who snatched a point from Asante Kotoko in a mid week encounter in Tamale will face the league leaders at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, Asante Kotoko will welcome Wa All Stars to the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, King Faisal will travel to Agona Swedru to face the All Blacks and Kpandu Heart of Lions will host unstable Liberty Professionals.

The other fixtures are (home teams first), Kessben v Obuasi Ashgold; Berekum Arsenal v Sekondi Hasaacas Tema Youth v Bechem Chelsea, Sekondi Eleven Wise v. Sporting Mirren.

These are all exciting fixtures and patronage is expected to be high which is good for the health of Ghana football.

FROM MY ARCHIVES (June 17th & 18th)

June 17th 1993: The Ministry of Youth and Sports has sent a message of congratulations to Tony Yeboah for winning the German Bundesliga goal king title. “It is our fervent hope that you will rise to even greater heights to inscribe the name of Ghana in letters of gold in the annals of world football”.

June 17th 1994: FIFA World Cup starts with Germany beating Bolivia 1-0 in the opening match.

June 17th 1995: Michael Johnson cruised to the fastest 200m of the year at the US championships in 20.04 seconds.

June 17th 1995: Riddick Bowe jabbed Jorge Luis Gonzalez silly, then knocked the 6ft 7. Cuban flat with a right cross in the sixth round to retain his WBO heavyweight title in Ls Vegas.

June 18th 1996: Algeria bans national soccer coach Ali Fergani and his deputy Mourad Abdelouchab for coaching for life and dissolve the national federation and the league following Algeria’s elimination by Kenya in the World Cup qualifying series.

Algeria lost 1-0 at home and were beaten 3-1 away.

A government spokesman said a national committee of reflection on how to re-organise and set right the management structures of soccer will be established to be headed by a significant.

June 18th 1997: Former heavyweight boxing champion Trevor Berbick has waived an extradition hearing and will be returned to Florida following his arrest on a probation violation.

June 18th 1997: Two players of Okwawu United have been signed on by German Club Kaiserslautern; Adolph Mensah and Fiifi Mensah. They will finalise their contracts in the first week of July.

June 17th 1998: New FIFA boss Sepp Blatter has pulled back from efforts to bring the World Cup to North Korea.

Havelange had written to North Korea last year inviting them to stage at least one match in the 2002 World Cup being co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.

June 18th 1998: Glenn Hoddle to manage Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon two year contract worth 600,000 pounds sterling as well as budget of £20million to recruit new players.