Plavi’s Reality Check

Ghana had been chasing two main things since the beginning of this year: the Woyome cash and the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) trophy. The latter has eluded us but the pursuit for the cash is on, at least from indications so far. The Black Stars have dealt a big blow to the man; a fifth trophy would have diverted some little attention from him but it wasn’t meant to be.

For most Ghanaians the just ended Afcon was theirs for the taking (not because former winners Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon were absent) but they felt it a divine right. For the Ghanaian whose ego is always bloated anytime we enter a tournament, he believes it is by right that we win. Certainly this was compounded by an over complacent and political coach- Goran Stevanovic- who promised to win trophies for Ghana in his first meeting with the press, with his famous declaration: “it’s time for trophies; I’m here to win trophies.”

Plavi as he prefers to be called had warmed himself into the hearts of Ghanaians with his promise thus calming down the tension that characterized his attention when most soccer fans were rooting for a local favourite Herbert Addo. He has studied the soccer terrain in the country and he knew our only quest- the nation’s cup, the jinx of not qualifying for the World Cup having been broken.

Our thirty year Odyssey for a new glory has been arduous since 1982. I have been told and I have read that after the Stars became African champions in 1982, no serious impression was made in the subsequent tournaments (that’s if they did qualify at all).  The 1992 tournament perhaps has been my favourite and as matter of fact the first tournament I recall watching. A ‘kid’ I was then, but it raised my enthusiasm for soccer.
 

I liked the name ‘Ziguinchor’ one of the host venues for the Senegal tournament. The tournament did not disappoint. Senegal, Zambia, La Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Ghana arguably had players who could best be termed golden. Ghana reached that final only to be beaten by Ivory Coast in that epic penalty haul. That is the closet we have come as a nation to lifting the trophy. As for the 2010 edition, we were clear outsiders to Egypt; they deservedly won it.

What has happened since 1992? The stars flattered to deceive in Tunisia ’94; poor officiating robbed Ghana from advancing to the finals in ’96; Burkina Faso ’96 brought the worst of the golden generation (forcing the maestro into premature retirement); Ghana/ Nigeria 2000- silenced by South Africa in the quarter finals courtesy in Kumasi; 2002- a new generation or an experimental side (Essien, Piantsil, Derrick Boateng, John Mensah drafted into the squad), exiting quite early in the tournament. 2004, the Stars did not qualify through the ingenuity of Rwanda, whose coach Ratomir Djukovic Ghana later hired (the man who took Ghana to its first World Cup) after a disgraceful first round exit in Egypt 2006. In 2008 what has popularly been touted as “host and third” followed Egypt and in Angola, the stars unexpectedly reached the final.

It is thus obvious that the Stars decide to fail when there is so much hope in them. At least history is our guide. I am told in 1982 they won it against all expectations. Afcon 2010, the two world cups and the just ended tournament are proof enough.

Most Ghanaians believed that Equatorial Guinea/ Gabon would bring some air of hope. This was a tournament the coach knew he had won in advance; the government was earnestly waiting for the trophy; the players and the FA wanted to break that thirty year jinx badly. But none was meant to be.

Various reasons have been adduced for the Stars failure.  I will not blame Gyan. Aren’t we used to him now? Neither will I blame Tagoe! Individual players we had; a team we did not. A team is as good as the one who puts it together. But whose responsibility is it to make a team? Plavi…Plavi.

Plavi, I believe, has learnt a bitter lesson in his life. He is one coach whose arrogance has surpassed his competence. What did he see before promising heaven and earth to annex the trophy for Ghana? Is it because his Serbian predecessors had chalked some ‘successes’ with the team made him believe that his job was cut and dry? Welcome to Africa! Plavi

His experimental playlist- which he shuffled at his whim was nothing but ridicule to his profession. Using a tournament as testing grounds to experiment with players? Do you think the Zambian coach did not know his first team before he set foot in Equatorial Guinea/ Gabon?

Plavi certainly has made history for Ghana- using all his outfield players in six matches but for one, and coming home with a certificate of participation instead of a medal and our players being rewarded as the worst disciplined team.

For those who had strong belief in the Stars’ success at the tournament, my condolence. And for those who always believe God is Ghanaian; and the Ghanaian is Luck, rethink!

There is always reward for hard work. God rewards diligence. The Zambians have been duly rewarded. So let’s not approach subsequent tournaments with a wishy-washy attitude and preparation and “hope” to win. It never happens!

Plavi…nota bene!