Somehow
Ghana managed to draw the one team all Ghanaians didn’t want to meet; the Pharaohs
of Egypt.
The
view in Ghana is that, our friends from the north of the continent apart from
being great footballers engage in gamesmanship and will even cheat all in an
effort to win a football game.
The
Black Stars recently welcomed some exiled and temporarily retired players back
into the squad for their victory against the Chippolopolo of Zambia but the
presence of such players did little to paper over the cracks of the defensive
aspects in coach Kwesi Appiah’s team.
 |
| Fatau Dauda |
Ghana’s
number-one goalie Fatau Bauda recently made a transfer to South Africa, where
he joined Orlando Pirates only to find himself perpetually benched because South
Africas second-choice goalie; Senzo Meyiwa is currently in the form of his life
at Pirates. Dauda is actually yet to make his debut at the Buccaneers and
against Zambia he showed jitters every time he came out of his goal to claim or
parry a cross. His performance on the day was that of a keeper who is very
rusty and lacking match practice.
 |
| Adambathia Larsen Kwarasey |
Former first-choice goalie, Adam Kwarasey who is the captain at Norwegian-side Stromgodset
IF, lost his place in the build-up to the last AFCON to Dauda. The
Norwegian-born goalie is currently injured (groin strain) and a date for his
return has not yet been set. Kwarasey conceded two goals in the last match he
started for Ghana against Turkey (he was withdrawn at half-time and Razak
Brimah who plays club football for CD Guadalajara made his debut).
 |
| Razak Brimah |
The
third-choice goalie, Razak Brimah was having a brilliant game in goal during
the recent friendly against Japan till the Blue Samurai’s turned on the style and
he was left picking three-balls from his twine in the second half. He released
Asamoah Gyan with a long throw from his own half for the striker to grab the
equalizer against the Turks on his debut but he also made some schoolboy errors
against Japan (a game where Ghana fielded a “B side”).
The
lack of quality goal-keeping options has led to calls for the return of the
veteran Richard “OLELE” Kingson, the former Wigan Athletic and Blackpool goalie
recently secured a one-year deal with Cypriot club Doxa Katokopia. After 18
months out of football with problems both on and off the pitch, It could be
argued that Richard Kingson lost his place in the squad due to his
club-lessness as much as his age of 35years (unlike in Egypt, in Ghana a player
is on borrowed time as soon as he hits 30). Kingson is currently playing active
football and could be set for a swansong in Brazil.
Former Black Stars and Accra Hearts of Oak goalie, Sammy Adjei has indicated a willingness to play for the Stars even though he is clubless at the moment. Adjei grew frustrated with the Black Stars after being frozen-out on the bench due to the wonderful form of Richard Kingson.
Several
goalies are on the fringes of the squad chiefly amongst them the World U-20
winning goalie Daniel Adjei who has very happy memories from Egypt where he
became a world-champion with the Black Satellites. He was a player who received
many call-ups without making many starts but the call-ups dried up when he made
a move to PSL-side Free State Stars. He received a baptism of fire on his PSL
debut and hasn’t yet locked down a starting slot.
There
is also some un-tested goal-keeping talent in the Glo-Premier League; Foli
Adade (Medeama SC) and Isaac Amoako
(Kumasi Asante Kotoko) but both have no chance of being given a starting berth
against Egypt due to their inexperience on the international stage.
The
Black Stars really need an active, competent goalie and fast if they are to
have a chance at making it to Brazil.
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