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Though they lost their quarter final match to 2 time champions, Uruguay, they returned home to a heroic reception; they did not bow their heads in shame. They were the only African team that returned with their heads held high; and the nation rolled out drums to welcome them as achievers. Other African teams strolled in as people beaten in war; nobody remembered to go and wait for them at the airports, let alone line the streets to welcome them. It is truly sweet to be successful.
The Black Stars lost their quarter final match, but their people saw them as winners; they understood it was sheer ill-luck that robbed them of a semi finals place. Nobody castigated anyone; Asamoah Gyan who had lost the penalty that eventually led to their exit was not humiliated in defeat. He had paid his dues: he gave a very good account of himself, scoring three vital goals for his team along the way.
Since the exit of Nigeria for example, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has become a laughing stock as soccer fans saw him as one who did not merit being in the Super Eagles’ team. He was seen as the worst striker in the tournament. A lot of people are even calling for his head. It shows that it is not the loss that matters, but the way and manner you lose. Asamoah Gyan lost and Yakubu also lost, but the reception they get today is not the same because one had lost gallantly while the other lost in a lackluster manner.
The Ghanaian team had taken their matches serious at the world cup as people who meant business. They saw themselves as people who came, not only to represent Ghana, but the whole of the African continent. They gave their very best to draw the praises of the African people; and the day they were eliminated, African fans were weeping – they deserved to be at the semi finals.
When you represent a people, you should have it at the back of your mind that you are either going to give them joy or you are going to break their hearts. A lot of people die of heart attacks following the failure of their darling teams at major tournaments. I am sure you wouldn’t want to be remembered for breaking people’s hearts or for sending people to their early graves.
Simply do your best; and when you are coming back home you wouldn’t be like a Yakubu, or a Sani Keita who disgraced their nation and brought bitterness to so many hearts. Just go and shine like the stars even though you are the black type. Black Stars, we say ‘well done’ for making Africa proud and for removing our shame. You made us excel over Asia, Australia and North America at this year’s world cup (none of them got to the quarter finals stage). You are the pride of the Black continent; 21 gun salute for you.
1 comments:
The great glory of travel, to me, is not just what I see that's new to me in countries visited, but that in almost every one of them I change from an outsider looking in to an insider looking out.
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