My colleague Ebo Quansah, former President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) is obviously worried that despite all the recent sports successes achieved by Ghana this year is not reflected in the media. I have a sneaky feeling that the current generation of sports journalists may be more interested in fault finding than lauding any achievements.

In football which is national pastime, the National Under-21 team, the Black Satellites emerged winners of the maiden West African Football Union (WAFU) tournament to add to their qualification for the impending African Youth Championships in Rwanda.

Coach Sellas Tetteh, who was the architect of this double victory, was only mentioned in dispatches as compared to the heavy doses of criticism levelled against him when he failed to shine during his brief attachment to the senior national team Black Stars.

Black Stars Serbian Coach, Milovan has been hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons. He has been the subject of media attacks because of his inability to express himself well in English with the players. He is reported to be using the sign language which the critics say is not effective enough. The Serbian has acknowledged this handicap and he is busily perfecting his English, saying that with time there would be perfect understanding between him and the players.

The able way the Serbian steered the home based Black Stars to eliminate perennial rivals Nigeria from the maiden African Nations Championships, speaks volumes about the credentials of the coach but that doesn’t seem to be good news in the view of the sporting media. With the first leg in Accra ending in a tricky 3-2 win for Ghana, Nigeria needed only a goal to carry the day, but the Serbian tactician worked a strategy that repulsed all the menacing attacks by the ferocious looking Nigerians and the scores remained barren thus sailing Ghana into the novelty championships in Cote d’Ivoire next year.

The first leg in Accra was quite frightening as Nigeria took a commanding 2-0 lead, but the Stars ability to fight back to win 3-2 confirms veteran coach and football administrator Ben Koufie’s verdict that Milovan is a good coach .“I have seen him working and after speaking with him a couple of times I can tell he is a very good coach, a very good developer. If he manages to break that language barrier, Ghana will benefit a lot from his experience” said Ben Koufie. This should be good news because we have a tough World Cup qualifying schedule ahead.

My observation is that, the media is putting too much premium on the Serbian’s inability to express himself well in English. What most people have lost sight of is that, his assistant Kwasi Appiah is such an intelligent chap that he has been able to master the Serbian’s sign language cum the broken English and the pair is right on course to deliver the goods.

Talking about sports journalists’ penchant for fault finding with coaches brings to mind the alleged derogatory comments by the chairman of the Black Starlets Management Awuah Nyamekye about Coach Kwasi Afranie. The Black Starlets are Ghana’s Under- 17 team, which got eliminated by Gambia in the Africa U-17 championships. Ghana had won the first leg at home 3-1 but lost the return 2-0 and Mr. Nyamekye who was chairman of the Football Association from 1990-1992 ,was reported in the Graphic Sports to have questioned the technical competence of Coach Afranie . He is alleged to have suggested that the coach must not be made to handle any national team again because he had passed his prime.

The children of coach Afranie have threatened legal action against the Starlets Chairman and the newspaper that made the publication. In a quick reaction, the former FA Chairman has denied granting any such interview or making any such comments but in an in interesting twist the paper is arguing that even if Nyamekye did not make those comments, it was no crime if he did that. The caution is that, if you take too much liberty in the passion for football you may end up being accused of character assassination.

Much as it is an accepted convention that coaches always take the blame for defeats, it would be stretching the matter too far if a coach is banned from handling any national team because of one defeat.

If coaches were to be sacked for every single defeat there won’t be any more coaches left on the benches, the inimitable Alex Ferguson of Manchester United included.

May I suggest to my colleague sports journalists that in dealing with coaches in all sports disciplines, one should be generous in praise and slow to criticize.

Cheers and keep loving sports.

The brilliant show by the home based Black Stars of Ghana that has earned them qualification for the maiden African Nations Championships, has given the nation some hope that the much talked about rebuilding exercise for World Cup 2010 is on course.

The Black Stars held their Nigerian counterparts, the Super Green Eagles, to a pulsating goalless draw in the second leg qualifier in Calabar and this was enough to see them through to the finals. The Stars had won the first leg in Accra 3-2 and Nigeria needed only a goal to qualify, but Ghana put up a terrific show and in the end Nigeria was even lucky to escape defeat, as the Black Stars came close to scoring in the dying minutes.

Nigeria, who had reached the final qualifying stages by eliminating Burkina Faso, took Accra by storm in their match against Ghana and took a commanding 2-0 lead by the half hour mark. Ghana had to fight to reduce the deficit just before the recess and in a blistering second half performance scored twice to carry the day.

With two away goals to their credit, Nigeria were highly favoured to advance for the finals slated for Cote d’Ivoire next February but the Black Stars rose to the occasion and won admiration for their excellent football skills and bravery.

The Nigerian quartet of Henry Uche, Olawale Cletus, Bello Musa and Musa Kabiru, who nearly caused havoc in Accra were effectively held in check by the Black Stars strong rearguard of Habib Mohammed, Ofosu Appiah, Daniel Yeboah, and Edmund Owusu Ansah backed in the post by Philemon McCarthy who was really tops.

This victory has really vindicated Serbian Coach.Milovan Romaic, who had promised to deliver if given more time to survey the terrain for more hidden talents. There is no doubt that inclusion of McCarthy, a product of Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord, gave the defence a solid protection and Ghana was not afraid to attack.

The general observation is that, this home-based Black Stars is quite a promising team but the fear is whether they would continue to be home- based long enough to give the coach ample room for team building. The rush by these youngsters for the so- called greener pastures abroad has disturbed a progressive team building. The snag is that most of them end up warming benches abroad and the resultant frustration disturbs their forward march to stardom. The nation is ultimately the loser.

It is my considered opinion that, it is time these teenagers were properly counseled about the need to mature properly for the high demands of a true professional player. Club officials should also consider the future of these youngsters and resist the temptation of the small benefits accruing from the percentage of transfer fees at the expense of these innocent young players, most of them from rather poor backgrounds

It is strange that goal king Eric Bekoe of Asante Kotoko fame was in such a wild haste to play abroad when the home based Black Stars of which he was an integral part were in such a crucial match .It is good that the coach was able to vary his tactics and the absence of Bekoe was not felt much as Alex Asamoah, Kojo Poku, Yaw Antwi, Francis Coffie, Agyemang Badu and others rose to the occasion. Now that Eric is no longer home- based and can’t play in the novelty African Nations Championships, it is hoped he would maintain his form and merit inclusion when the full Black Stars is assembled for the World Cup matches.

This victory by the Black Stars is another of the sporting successes that should help dilute the political tension in the country as a result of the forthcoming Presidential run-off.

It is hoped that this week’s exciting pairings in the premier league will help further lower the high political temperature in the country.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.

When an African- American football fanatic of mine visited Ghana in the early sixties, he was so fascinated with Agona Swedru All Blacks Football Club that he predicted that the team would in future be the greatest club in Ghana. He was so sentimental about the name All Blacks. I tried in vain to impress upon him that there were certain powerful clubs in the country with such a strong support base, that it would be almost unthinkable to surpass them. He stood his grounds and simply asked me to mark his prediction on the wall.

A year after his return home, I wrote to inform him that All Blacks had been relegated from the top division and to make matters worse, the club has been revamped with a new name Agona Fankobaa. He was not amused at all but said he still had the gut feeling that All Blacks shall rise again. Yes, All Blacks did return to the national league in 1970, but went in and out of the competition till 1978 when together with Fankobaa, the two Swedru clubs lost top division status.

Fankobaa managed to spring back in 1980 but it was brief. A year later the national league was renamed the premier league and since then, Swedru had not been represented till three seasons ago when All Blacks gained admission into this elite division. It is unfortunate that my America friend did not live long enough to witness this spectacular feat by All Blacks but he would even be happier to hear from his grave that All Blacks have scored a spectacular first in the annals of Ghana’s football club history.

Affectionately called the “Black Magicians”, All Blacks is the first traditional Ghanaian club to be bought by a foreign business tycoon, in the style of famous English clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, etc.

Japanese business tycoon and politician Toshihiro Iwasa has bought 70% shares in All Blacks and appointed his Korean partner Kwon Il Han Chief Executive. He is going to run the club like a business entity and employ his playing staff, technicians and board members. Veteran coach Fred Osam Duodu has been appointed head coach, former chairman George Afriyie who now owns 20% shares is deputy CEO and ace football commentator Dan Kwaku Yeboah of Peace FM fame is Communications Director.

This is quite a strong backroom staff and the football public is looking up to the Japanese businessmen to see how successful this novelty business run football club administration in Ghana would be. Agona Swedru, the home ground of All Blacks is a fertile catchment area of football enthusiasts and many are dreaming to see the day when at least half the size of Arsenals Emirates Stadium will be constructed at Agona Swedru.

At the moment, the Swedru Stadium has been declared unsuitable for premier league football and All Blacks would in the meantime use the Cape Coast Robert Mensah Stadium as home grounds.

On their first visit to their adopted home on Sunday Nov 23, All Blacks were quite impressive in the start of the 2008/2009 league with a pulsating 1-1 draw with Tema Youth. All Blacks led all the way, till a last minute penalty in favour of Tema Youth robbed “the Black Magicians” of the maximum points.

Supporters of Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak always pride themselves to be pacesetters in Ghana football but this time round All Blacks have beaten them to it. Club ownership is now the modern concept, Kotoko and Hearts cannot therefore afford to be left behind It is hoped that with their massive crowd support , these two great traditional clubs would think of running the club on business lines and they could start in a big way by floating shares. In the case of Kotoko, Manhyia could be the majority shareholders and officials would have no alternative but to account properly to shareholders.

I believe strongly that Kotoko and Hearts could take advantage of the greatly expanded stadia in Accra and Kumasi and maximize the gate intakes with proper management. What do you think?

Meanwhile the start of the 2008/2009 premier league on Sunday produced exciting results with Obuasi Ashgold under the new management of Herbert Mensah topping the scoring charts with a 4-1 home win over Real Tamale United. New entrants Bechem Chelsea scored a brilliant away victory over Liberty Professional at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Defending champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko drew nil-nil with King Faisal Babies in their local derby at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. In other matches Berekum Arsenal beat Heart of Lions 1-0, Kessben beat Sekondi Eleven Wise 2-0 at Abramkese and Hasaacas drew goalless with Wa Stars in Sekondi.

Accra Hearts of Oak will meet new entrants St. Mirren at the Ohene Djan Stadium in an outstanding match on Monday Nov 24.

There are murmurs that the league fixtures had been arranged to favour certain top clubs who have been given perceived cheap opponents to boost their confidence with victories at the early stages of the competition. However the shocking defeat of Liberty Professionals at home by new comers Bechem Chelsea does not justify the accusation of favouritism by the organizers. Let’s not forget that there is no logic in football. Look at what is happening in the English premiership. All the four top clubs failed to score at the weekend with Arsenal confounding matters by conceding three goals to Manchester City two weeks after beating Manchester United.

The sporting world is exciting, keep loving sports.

It is an axiom that football and for that matter sports in general, can be used to cool down political tension. It is in this vein that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has hurried with its programme and this weekend, the 2008/2009 premier league will kick off at all the eight centres exactly two weeks before the national elections.

The national election is the dominant topic around the country with tension mounting as the day draws near. The clarion call from religious bodies and the parties themselves is that, the nation should have peaceful elections and that the confusion that followed similar elections in certain African countries should be avoided at all costs in Ghana.

The Ghana Football Association believes in the notion that football especially can be a real unifying force and it is therefore appropriate that the new football season starts with an international match featuring the nation’s most adored team, The Black Stars, and their counterparts from Tunisia. The match takes place at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday Nov 19 to be followed by the Premier league four days later.

It is going to be an exciting international match fit to open the season. Ghana and Tunisia rarely meet in international competitions at the national level except in clubs matches. The most recent contact was another friendly against the Black Stars in Tunis prior to CAN 2006 in Egypt. The Tunisian won 1-0. Indeed the most serious international encounter between the two countries one may recall was as far back as 1965 when the Black Stars beat Tunisia 3-2 in extra time to win the Africa Cup in Tunis. Those were the days of Addo Odametey, Osei Kofi, Frank Odoi, John Naawu and co.

Even though the two sides will miss some key players for Wednesday’s match there are a lot of worthy substitutes to give the match a touch of class. The Black Stars have four regular players on the injury list- Michael Essien, John Mensah, Sulley Muntari and Laryea Kingston but the presence of comeback kids like Quincy Abeyie, Dede Ayew, Hans Adu Sarpei and new entrants Samuel Yeboah, Jonathan Mensah and Samuel Kyere should make the team tick.

Tunisia will miss some star performers from club sides Etoile du Sahel and Sfaxien who are preparing for their impending CAF Confederation Cup final. But in Issam Jomaa and Silva Dos Santos, the two experienced France –based professionals Tunisia can boast of a duo that can tear any defence apart on a good day.

There is no doubt that this friendly encounter will be worth talking about, and it would continue to be discussed in football circles till the following Sunday when champion club Kumasi Asante Kotoko open the defence of their league title with a local derby against King Faisal Babies at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

Accra Hearts of Oak, who between them and Asante Kotoko have dominated the league over the years, will give new comers St Mirren a taste of what prevails in the premier league at the El- Wak Stadium in Accra in another match expected to be full of thrills.

The other fixtures are:

Berekum Arsenal v Kpandu Heart of Lions at Berekum

Kumasi Kessben v Sekondi Eleven Wise at Abramkese

Swedru All Blacks v Tema Youth at Cape Coast

Obuasi Ashgold v Tamale Real United at Obuasi.

Sekondi Hasaacas v. Wa All Stars at Sekondi.

Accra Liberty Professionals v.Bechem Chelsea.

This is quite a healthy football package and it must be able to produce enough excitement to reduce the political tension surrounding the forthcoming national elections. Let’s keep loving sports.

If the purpose of the Black Stars – Tunisia friendly match in Accra on Wednesday was the Football Association’s contribution to cool down political tension in the country, then it achieved its purpose. A few hours after the match, it became the topic for discussion around the country and it was headline news in the media albeit for wrong reasons.

The verdict was that it was a lousy match. The Black Stars did not exhibit any individual brilliance or polished team work and fans went home disappointed.

Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac, believes it was a useful exercise because it gave him the opportunity to try new faces. He is convinced that with time he would be able to assemble a good squad.

Most keen observers of the football scene however think it may be too late in the day to start building a team for the World Cup and the Cup of Nations. Veteran sports journalist Joe Aggrey, for instance thinks there is a lot of work to do. Hear him “the message is clear, without Essien, Muntari, Kingston and the other seasoned players, the team could be in shambles and we would need a lot of these friendlies to get the team shape for the tough and crowd programme ahead”.

Joe Aggrey described the goalless match against Tunisia as a useless encounter and complete waste of time. His views are shared by another veteran sports journalist Ebo Quansah and former President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG). Ebo was particularly not too enthused with the performance of Serbian Coach Rajevac. He questioned the usefulness of the Serbian’s sign language to the players and wondered how many of the players had attended any sign language classes.

On the whole, the Tunisians appeared better prepared and showed more cohesion in attack which really exposed the weakness in the Ghana defence. The match has given the myriad of football experts the opportunity to discuss football administration in the country and a large section of the population who are bored with the large dose of political talk in the air.

Incidentally, Ghana has another match against Tunisia. This time, it is the Africa Women’s competition in Equatorial Guinea. Both teams are virtually out of the qualifying stages and the match could be termed another friendly, with very little at stake except perhaps pride of honour.

No matter the result, it is hoped it would generate enough discussion on the promotion of women’s football in Ghana and further help in reducing the political tension in the country.

There is also the expectation that the Under- 17 national team The Black Starlets, will shine in their Africa championships qualifying match against their Gambian counterparts in Banjul on Saturday Nov 22. The Starlets won the first leg match 3-1 in Kumasi and there is every hope that they would be able to hold the Gambians at home. That would be good news and topical enough to dilute the political tension in the country prior to the National election on Dec 7.