The Ghanaian media had painted such a gloomy picture of the Black Stars’ readiness for the World Cup/ Africa Cup qualifying match against Mali that the Stars victory came as a shock and national jubilation was rather muted. Most people were shocked into disbelief and actually doubted what they were seeing on television as the media’s highly underrated Black Stars tore the Malians into pieces with two stunning second half goals by newcomer Kwadwo Asamoah and unstable striker Mathew Amoah.

The media had laid so much premium on the absence of skipper Stephen Appiah, Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien’s legal tussle with a lady who claims to be the wife that even the most fanatical football supporter was just hoping against hope that the Black Stars could make it. The highly publicized alleged financial scandal involving Sports Minister Muntaka Mubarak did not also help matters as it was portrayed as bad omen for the Black Stars.

There was a lot of hype on Mali’s so called array of international stars notably Seville of Spain’s Frederick Kanoute, Seydou Keita of FC Barcelona, Mamadou Sidibe of Stoke City and Mohammed Sisoko of Juventus. One therefore got the impression that the Black Stars were only being sent to the slaughter house to be butchered in the steaming heat of Bamako.

But contrary to such speculation by messengers of doom, the reticent Serbian coach Rajevac and his able deputy Kwasi Appiah were working seriously on both the mental and physical toughness of his squad. The last major trial match against Uganda in Tamale played under floodlights put the players in the right condition for the Bamako encounter and that explains why they felt so much at home especially in the second half and deservingly carried the day.

Those who faulted the coach for excluding Yusif Chibsah from the squad, even though he had scored in the trial match against Uganda now respect his expertise in team selection.

It is my expectation that this neat 2-0 win over Mali in front of their home crowd should spur the team to greater heights not forgetting that the game is so unpredictable that any team can lose at home hence there should be no lowering of guards in the home fixtures.

Stephen Keshie, the Nigerian coach of Mali has found to his chagrin that even though it is necessary to psyche your players, hysterical blustering does not pay. Well, who knows, may be it was Keshie’s threat of annihilating the Black Stars that toughened the Ghanaians to put up that steely show.

On this performance, the Black Stars have given the nation hope that when the African football nations assemble in South Africa next year, the Black Star representing the freedom of Africa will be there.

All said and done I am convinced that despite the global financial crisis, there are exciting sporting times ahead and we must keep loving sports to sooth our fast breaking nerves.

FROM MY ARCHIVES (June 7th & 8th)

June 7th 1993: Tommy Morrison used his 20 year old advantage to outwork George Foreman and win a 12 round unanimous decision in Las Vegas.

June 8th 1993: Obuasi Goldfields protest to the Ghana football Association on decision to award points to Neoplan Stars in their inconclusive league match at Bekwai.

A statement signed by Sam Jonah, Managing Director of Goldfields said, “We are extremely disappointed over this decision, we again respectfully and humbly request your careful reconsideration of the whole issue. “It was the Neoplan Stars supporters who invaded the pith and prevented the referee from completing the match which had at least 10 to 12 minutes for play”.

“Furthermore it was the referee and not Goldfields who abandoned the match without the fixture being complete. Considered opinion is that at least a replay should be authorized”, the statement added.

June 8th 1994: Asante Kotoko coach Malik Jabir says nobody should be surprised at the poor show by the club. “They should accept what we have. We have third grade players and much should not be expected from them. We are not paying the players well for them to give of their best at club level. The players lack shooting power because their training field is not conducive for shooting, what do you expect to have on match day? Some of the players have the talent but they are pampered. If you discipline a player, an official intervenes and soon they are off the road”, he added.

June 7th 1994: Olge Kuzenkova of Russia set a world record of 68.14 metres for the women’s hammer at an international meeting in Moscow.

June 7th 1995: Ninth seed Kafelnikov of Russia knocks out world number one Andre Agassi with 6-4, 6-3, and 7-5 win in the French Open.

Steffi Graf beat Gabriel Sabatini 6-1, 6-0 to reach semi-finals in the women’s singles.

June 8th 1996: Black Stars of Ghana draw 0-0 with Tanzania in FIFA World Cup preliminary match in Dar es Salaam.

June 7th 1997:Croatia’s Iva Majoli joined the select list of teenage French Open champions as Swiss prodigy Martina Hingis dismally failed to live up to her status as the best women’s player in the world.
The 16 year old Swiss was thrashed 6-4, 6-4 by the ninth seeded Majoli, the lowest seeded player ever to win the French Open.

June 7th 1999: Ghanaian sprinter Leo Myles-Mills runs 9.98 secs in the 100 metres to be during the National Athletic Association trials in Boise, Idaho in the USA. He is the first Ghanaian to run the 100 metres event under 10 secs.