As The Black Star Fades

Perkins Bare

As Ghana`s golden generation which was arguably the most capable of all to bring the Fifa World Cup Trophy to Africa ages we can only bemoan another generation which has once again failed to write their names in the history books yet they were more than capable.

Once again it’s a case of talent reaching the point whereby it ages without being fully acknowledged.

Most of the players in the group was groomed in Ghana's youth teams that came through during the nineties and at the onset of the 21st century. The core, though, would be culled from the Black Satellites side that went all the way to the final of the 2001 World Youth Championships (now the U20 World Cup) in Argentina, where they were only outclassed by the Javier Saviola-inspired hosts. The regular starting lineup of that squad which was put together by 'Coach-hene' Emmanuel Afranie, featured the faces of Essien, Mensah, Muntari, Emmanuel Addoquaye Pappoe, Razak Pimpong, John Paintsil, and Derek Boateng. In those lads, Ghana had found a team which went on to unite Africa as we all at some point all believed that they could actually win it.

The generation which was able to qualify for three consecutive World Cup tournaments was involved in the same old tale tourneys as they expected to be pitted in a group of death and meeting up with usual opponents Germany and USA who seemed to have been tasked to ensure the failure of the generation.

What is remarkable about this generation as we continue to wave thee goodbye is that they were amazingly pitted with the winners in two of the three tournaments 2006-2014.In the 2006 tournament they had Italy in their group and in the 2014 tournament they had Germany. In the 2010 tournament which was their most successful tournament which came at the backdrop of their success at the U20 tournament in Egypt in which it had been blended with another blessed generation of youngsters. They also had Germany Australia and Serbia and qualifying a respectable second which started the Africa United train.

In what was possibly the teams last World Cup in Brazil they were pitted with the winners again Germany together with Portugal and USA and they were embroiled in pay-disputes with the GFA though they managed to hold the winners Germany to a 2-2 draw in a match they poured their hearts out on the field.

The one thing to bemoan is that the whole world expected Ghana`s golden generation to be able to develop into world-beaters but it was to be another case whereby the whole continent was just left with a sour taste in the mouth rudely after their appetites had been worked up as seen by the manner the team handled its game on the field of play.

The team which was the first to qualify for the World Cup hoped to lift the Afcon when they hosted the tourney in 2008 but they came third after beating another blessed golden generation of the Ivory Coast which looks set to go into extinction without even lifting the Afcon cup as they have also been haunted by the same demon that has haunted the Ghanaian golden generation since it came to the fore.

This failure of the full blossoming of this generation can be attributed to the pressure which apparently the players could not mange in the light of the expectations.

When the team had finally broke the World Cup jinx that alone was an expectation exceeded and when the team showed a brilliant display at the 2006 tournament they had just gained the attention of not only Africa but of the rest of the World footballing fraternity.

Another factor was the successes themselves which the team considering that they carried the youngest squad to the World cup was unable to get over and they let the wins get to their heads especially when they single handedly carried the hopes of the whole continent on their shoulders.

Despite the team losing talent in the form of Mario Balotelli and arguably the World`s best defender Jerome Boateng they still managed to play magnificently and its all there to see that this was the generation not only for Ghana but for the rest of Africa.  

The GFA is equally to blame especially after their Hollywood act at the Brazil tourney which shocked the whole world. Even as it stands it is sad that Ghana football which we could identify with at the world cup as Africans is headed on a path like a possessed legion pig and if the situation is not quieted down they are certainly headed for disaster.

The 2014/15 football league is in limbo as the 2014 Brazil Enquiry continues to dominate their football as if that is what is going to ensure that they produce another brilliant crop of players. As it is not enough the colts system is currently in a deep coma which it is not expected to get out of soon and this is going to have a direct implications on their junior policy system. The reserve league which was a noble idea is almost as good as non-existent as the U17s continue to serve their age cheating ban.

This leaves one with questions whether it is the GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi who is slowly losing the plot after 9 years in office yet he took over at the perfect time which was right on the brink of Ghan`s maiden appearance at the World Cup.

Asamoah Gyan who continues to lament his exclusion from the Ballon D`or list 23 man shortlist which contains players such as Arturo Vidal, Xabi Alonso.

Gyan who played brilliantly in the 2013/14 as he had 29 league goals (just two short of his all-time personal best) - Gyan also sealed the Golden Boot for topscoring in the Arabian Gulf League with Al Ain. Those goals took his tally since joining the 2003 Asian champions into triple figures, helping him soar right up the club's overall goalscoring tables to second place where he currently hopes to become the all-time top goal scorer for the club.