Stars farewell match Friday

History will unfold at the Accra Stadium in the next 72 hours as the nation’s candidates for the Brazil 2014 Mundial make a memorable appearance in front of an anticipated huge crowd prior to their departure to the historic tournament.

Historic in every respect, Friday evening’s ceremony being staged by Larry Opare Otoo’s Primeval Consult, will afford Ghanaian soccer fans a unique opportunity to see and also bid the Black Stars farewell before they emplane to Europe to assess their strength against The Netherlands in Amsterdam on May 31.

Though the absence of midfield gems, Michael Essien and Kevin-Prince Boateng, will be sorely missed, the fun-filled package on the night still promises to compensate for any such regret.

Stars kinpins, Essien and Boateng, have been excused to attend to some pressing issues in Europe and meet the team in Holland later for next week Saturday’s big pre-World Cup clash. 

The grand farewell match, the first of its kind in the Stars’ three World Cup qualifications since 2006, comes with it an attractive offer for the local select side to engage Coach Kwasi Appiah’s squad.

The Stars’ opponents, picked from a text poll by fans, will enjoy free hotel accommodation in Accra and a financial package of GHC500 per player, in addition to the privilege of lining up against one of the world’s most exciting teams.

Ghana finished among the last eight in the 32-nation tournament at South Africa 2010 and still ranks high among Africa’s five torch bearers for Brazil 2014. Friday night, therefore, marks the beginning of the Stars’ preparation towards their third World Cup campaign which begins with a tough Group G, comprising USA, Germany and Portugal.

Mainly a ceremonial match, the event offers the lucky players from the select side, to be handled by experienced Coach Herbert Addo, a good platform to justify the confidence reposed in them by the fans who voted massively for them.

Even without a World Cup chance, local stars such as premiership top scorers -- Augustine Okrah of Bechem United (12 goals) and Asante Kotoko’s Seidu Bancey (11 goals) -- Kwabena Adusei (on stand by), Samuel Abeiku Ainooson, Jordan Opoku (Kotoko), goalkeepers George Owu (Hasaacas) and Robert Dabuo (Ashantigold), Winful Cobbinah, Nuru Sulley, Ashittey Ollenu (Hearts), Attamah Larweh, Nicholas Odjer (Tema Youth), Maxwell Mensah, Stephen Nyarko (Wa All Stars) and others would want to thrill the crowd and leave an imprint in their memory on this special occasion.

On the other hand, happy-go-lucky SWAG Footballer of the Year, skipper Asamoah Gyan, will surely make an appearance as he leads teammates such as Fatau Dauda, Stephen Adams, Harrison Afful, Samuel Inkoom, John Boye, Jerry Akaminko, Christian Atsu, Mubarak Wakaso, Rabiu Mohammed, Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu, Abdul Majeed Waris, Sulley Muntari, Andre Dede Ayew, Jordan Ayew and others for the final hurrah.

The event will also see Kwasi Appiah making his maiden public appearance since his double coronation as SWAG’s Sports Personality and Coach of the Year last Saturday.