Tribute: Recently departed Ghana Black Stars
In the aftermath of Ghana’s loss, every Ghanaian has taken up the mantle as a coach,analyst, sports journalist and above all, footballer.
Four-time African Cup of Nations Champions, the Ghana Black Stars, was delivered an early ticket out of the 2021 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) by Les Coelacantes of Comoros.
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Comoros dishing out a major defeat against Ghana is monumental in our football legacy not because we deem Comoros an unworthy opponent, but because we call ourselves a “football nation.”
And for a football nation, an Afcon tournament without a single win is nothing to write home about, yet makes its way into our history books.
The think pieces, the editorials, radio and television show panels, and most importantly, the tweets will be pouring in like a flood.
With the big question on everyone’s mind, how could a Ghana Black Stars team perform so poorly on the biggest stage of African football?
As many would soon realise, the answer is not that simple.
In bouncing back from a corruption-induced scandal in 2018, the Ghana Football Association began the hashtag; #BringBackTheLove.
For some Ghanaians, the love died with their heartbreak of Asamoah Gyan missing the crucial penalty against Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup.
And for many others, that love died in 2014 when the team seemed too concerned with their bonuses rather than playing the game that united us as a people.
Reaching the finals of the 2017 Afcon was not momentous enough for fans in a county currently chasing a 40-year championship drought.
Disheartened
As an avid Black Star fan, I am disheartened that the current squad is not familiar with the almost cult-like worship of the Black Stars.
Growing up in Ghana, the name of the Black Stars rolled off my tongue. Game days at any tournament were my favourite as schools close early, employers institute unofficial half days, market women adorned coordinated wigs of red, gold and green. The streets were empty.
And if you are caught in transit while the game begins, it was best to find the nearest television or radio and squat until the game is over.
The Black Stars always came home to a roaring crowd of supporters running after their bus at the Kotoka Airport. This was a football nation.
Today, most of this love is lost. Instead, we lean into skepticism. We want to believe the kind of skepticism that chases away hope and optimism, so we are not distressed when the Black Stars lose.
Youth
Today, Ghana’s population, although youthful, is stifled with economic hardships, lack of infrastructure, corruption and unemployment.
For some Ghanaians, a lot is riding on those 90 minutes the Black Stars are on the pitch, mainly joy and escapism.
It is unfair to ask the Black Stars to carry such a heavy burden of providing an escape for Ghanaians whenever they put on the national jersey.
However, this expectation comes with the territory as taxpayers’ cedis contribute to the allocated 25 million dollars for the national team.
The Black Stars have a long road of recovery ahead of them. Much of which should include a shuffle of the GFA, a change in management and an effort to make this Ghana team a family.
In addition, the squad needs an intentional connection to Ghanaians. They need to start putting faces to the stories and cultures of the people they are playing for. They need to reconnect to this nation and its people.
If we as fans should bring back the love, the Ghana Black Stars need to show us why they are deserving of our love.
This could be the most significant undertaking of this recent team.
As a self-proclaimed journalist and analyst during this wave of Ghanaian football criticisms, I will always bring the love.
My love for the Black Stars may blind me, but I hope this love is transformed and transcends beyond skepticism and heartbreak.
The writer is a Public Health Consultant. Email: [email protected]
