A cross section of Ghanaians interviewed after the 2010 World Cup draw in South Africa have expressed relief that for the first time in many international competitions, Ghana has not been placed in the so called group of death.

A quick survey downtown in Accra, the capital city talking to the ordinary Ghanaian football fan gave the impression that it was not a particularly tough group playing Australia, Germany and Serbia .in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Ben Ephson, the renowned pollster and Editor of the famous political newspaper the Daily Dispatch said he felt the group was manageable and with a bit of hard work Ghana could sail into the second round.

Joe Aggrey, the former sports columnist of the popular national weekly “The Mirror” and one time Deputy Minister of Sports also believes that with a little bit of luck Ghana could advance well in the competition .“ Ghana has to beat Germany and Serbia”, he said.

A dissenting voice however came from an ardent Ghanaian football fan, Dr Oheneba Owusu Danso, pursuing further studies in Germany. He believes that Serbia, coming from a tough qualifying group must not be underrated.  And on top, he thinks it would be a psychological problem for Ghana’s Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac who will be caught between country and work.

In a telephone interview, Dr Oheneba Danso from his base in Munich said Ghana would have to show much more improvement in her current form otherwise things would not be all that rosy.

The worry of quite a sizeable number of football fans is that the focus on the World Cup draws might be distracted by the large number of unknown Ghanaian officials that travelled to South Africa to witness the event supposedly at the tax payers’ expense.

The mass circulation privately owned tabloid “The Daily Guide”, carried a banner headline in last Friday’s edition that Kwesi Pratt, a well known political journalist with no known inclination towards sports headed a government delegation of party activists to watch the draws in South Africa.

Already there is so much hullabaloo about a so- called Public Interest Committee to supervise the activities of the Ghana Football Association and the Ministry of Sports and the Football Association are still undecided  who should have the majority stakes.

Observers are worried that if care is not taken, the struggle to control football affairs in the country may take precedence over the Black Stars preparations for Angola next month and subsequently the World Cup in June.

It is hoped that all those officials struggling for recognition will consider the national interest first and seek the welfare of the players who are definitely those expected to deliver the goods.

Truly the sporting world does not cease to be intriguing. Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.