World Cup Diary 5: Prayers for one last Azonto dance
There are two expressions that can be summoned to sum up today: Today is either the day the Lord has made or the day of reckoning.
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We will know at the end of this evening which destiny applies to Ghana’s participation in Brazil 2014. It has come to that. Another way of looking at it is: Do or die, or perhaps, all die be die!
It was not meant to be this way. According to the original script to which we all subscribed, especially in our dreams, Ghana would have disposed of the USA by now thereby reducing our collective nerves for the German match. We hoped that Portugal would have given Germany a rough ride in their own match, thereby making the Germans less self-assured. This would have set up a duel with Portugal from which we could emerge with another draw.
Of course things have not gone that way; that awful defeat to the USA has changed the entire equation and brought us to a place we would dearly like to avoid. However, all is not lost. We have only lost a battle, not the war and while there is life, there is hope. There can’t ever be a time to pile on the clichés of optimism for which we have to thank the hordes of “motivational speakers” who populate our media-land.
Today is the day of reckoning: This is the realistic assessment of our true situation as the Black Stars go into battle against Germany. A win against Germany is a tall order. Even a draw would be a fantastic result.
Against the ruthless German machine which is defined by efficiency and great organisation. In fact, any country meeting Germany would feel apprehensive because Germany’s World Cup history is a narrative of success at the highest level.
Germany has won the cup three times and played in four other finals. The team has appeared in 17 out of the 19 tournaments and reached the quarter-finals in all but only one appearance.
They have also won three European Championships and were runners up on three occasions. Ghana’s participation started in 2006 and had another crack in 2010. This is our third appearance at the football feast.
So on paper, we have a David-and-Goliath situation, which is not bad news because as we know David, who was ranked far below Goliath in the biblical equivalent of FIFA ranking, got the better of the Philistine giant. That would be the day the Lord has made.
In such situations the nation must rally around and offer support for the players. Media reports say that there is peace in the Ghana camp in Brazil.
These reports confirm that there was a period after the USA match when the Ghana team was riven by conflict and doubt. We have been assured by players and officials that there is tranquillity in the camp and the boys are keen to go.
We must do what we can to support them. We have been exhorted to pray for the team. This is the sensible thing to do. I am sure the Germans are also praying; that is those who are not drinking beer in the sun. Indeed, let us not be fooled by this beer-drinking ruse.
Now, this is what I think: As we know some people go to other people to pray for them, it is possible that Germany also has such prayer contractors who do the business for the rest of the nation. I have every faith in our prayer warriors to outperform their German counterparts any day, but today is no ordinary day. If it is going to be the day the Lord has made, we need every praying heart to be switched on at full blast.
Then there is the matter of miracles. Mathematically, it will be difficult to qualify if we fail against Germany today. However, miracles do happen and if the USA beats Portugal, every outcome becomes possible.
This is why it is in our self-interest to extend our prayers to the USA. This may be difficult to do because that country must now rank just a notch behind Suarez and his Uruguay as our all-time hate team. But remember that in football, as in politics, there are no permanent enemies. There are only permanent interests.
However, despite the protestations of my friend Sussie, who has proclaimed herself the PR Manager for Suarez in Ghana, there can be no letup on prayers against Suarez. Indeed, I even consider those who out of love for Liverpool admire his skills. I refuse to see those skills, especially as his two goals have all but eliminated England, our colonial chums.
England’s problem is that it has allowed the love of money to dictate the development of their football. They have the best league in the world which has attracted some of the best players in the world. Unfortunately a few of those players are English hence the irony is that England is being pushed out by a Uruguayan who plies his trade in England.
England’s departure from the tournament would be a blow for the event. England has a large contingent of supporters who bring colour and noise to every game. It would be better if they stay afloat awhile. But I doubt that even a win against Costa Rica would guarantee a reprieve.
As for me, I have a confession to make. I had been looking forward to dancing at Osu as I did following Ghana’s wins in 2006 and 2010. I would love to have one such Azonto time with the masses on the streets.
Never has a nation needed cheering as we do today. For the sake of our nation, and so that we can dance and smile again, let us urge the Stars on in any way we can to make today ‘the day the Lord has made’. One last Azonto dance on the Oxford Street, please, Kwasi Appiah and the boys.
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The writer is a media consultant, president of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) and a member of the National Media Commission