Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: World Cup Diary 3

Kasim,
It is called democratic fandom voice oh. I agree, Iran deserve some
credit, as no doubt their coach does too. Yes, it is the World Cup (FIFA
COPYRIGHT), yes Iran played within their very limited limitations, but
Nigeria played poorly, just as they did against... Tahiti. They often
do not get up when poor or mediocre teams are in front of them. As I
said, they may defy us yet. After the show-me-the- money (which I agreed
with) spectacle before the Confederations Cup, and despite loosing to
both Uruguay and Spain, they playing creditably against good teams.

Ugo, It is true that Keshi sees in training what we do not see on the
pitch, and the wonders of PVRs are that you can watch over and over
again and be proved wrong after some initial, perhaps, rush to judgment.
However, I remain unconvinced about Ameobi, despite his zeal.. I would
have a preferred a fearless youngster than an aged, albeit trying
veteran, even if he might have experience; he just doesn't have enough
movement any more, and well coached teams teams are no longer
intimidated by battering rams -- look at Hulk against Croatia and
Emenike after a while in this game.

170 million and counting Kasim,

Pablo

'Kasim Alli' via USA Africa Dialogue Series wrote:

> A country of 170 million coaches. Maybe we should give give Iran some
> credit and give our boys some break. They did what they could. This is
> the World Cup, no team is there to sell popcorn, they all came to
> play. We all need to relax and enjoy the matches.
>
> Kasim Alli.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Jun 18, 2014, at 2:09 AM, Ugo Nwokeji <ugo@berkeley.edu
> <mailto:ugo@berkeley.edu>> wrote:
>
>> Pablo, to pick up on an issue you raised -- and, as you will see, NOT
>> to defend this team or how they played:
>>
>> Regarding the substitution of Moses with Ameobi: I agree with you and
>> Folu that the team was immobile. I also agree with you that Moses was
>> playing o.k., even though he was not having the best game of his life.
>>
>> But Keshi's substitution was a tactical move to tackle a structural
>> imbalance in the Eagles' play against Iran for the first 60 minutes
>> or so that Keshi and some of his players had created. It is Keshi's
>> fault for playing Azeez in an advanced position, like a number 10,
>> whereas he plays as a defensive midfielder in La Liga. Mikel too
>> plays as a defensive midfielder in the Premiership but we have seen
>> him do a more effective job at the number 10 position, so Keshi
>> should have utilized him there and played Azeez behind him, instead
>> of the other way around. It is nonetheless the collective fault of
>> the central midfielders that they failed to support the lone striker
>> when they could have done so.
>>
>> We started with two wingers in Moses and Musa, a lone striker in
>> Emenike, and three central midfielders in Onazi, Mikel and Azeez. The
>> two wingers (including Moses) both had an o.k. game. The problem is
>> that we had two wingers, who did largely their job by sending crosses
>> to the Iran 18-yard box, and three central wingers who neither
>> supported the lone striker nor create meaningful chances of their own
>> for him. As a result, three or four Iran defenders were nearly always
>> on hand to crowd out Emenike because our midfielders -- particularly,
>> Mikel and Onazi -- chose to be immobile. They were not making
>> themselves available for passes in attacking positions. Even though
>> Germany played as many as three forwards to our one (never mind the
>> Germany forwards are attacking midfielders), you could see how the
>> central midfielders behind them (particularly Khedira) supported the
>> forwards, while fulfilling their defensive duties against Portugal
>> better that our central midfielders did against Iran.
>>
>> The lack of support for the striker also limited the option for the
>> wingers. This is not to exonerate the wingers; they could have done
>> more to support the striker. I cannot how many times Moses was making
>> a run in the box to provide Musa with an option (apart from Emenike)
>> to pass the ball from the right and vice versa.
>>
>> Because of the above reasons and in contrast to your take, Pablo, I
>> think that Keshi's substitution of Moses with Ameobi was an
>> appropriate response. Two wingers were redundant and one striker was
>> sorely inadequate in the way the team was playing. What the change
>> did was to reduce the redundancy and provide support for the attack
>> and, to his credit, Ameobi acquitted himself well. (Which game were
>> you watching? Lol.) He has lost a step or two, but he always plays
>> with professionalism, and he actually enjoys playing for Nigeria and
>> with zeal. Given the team's overall mediocre display, he clearly
>> added some spark to their display when he came on. But it is a sad
>> commentary upon the state of talent in Nigeria that Sola Ameobi can
>> still add freshness to the Eagles at this late phase of his career. I
>> won't have any problem if he starts the next game in a two-man
>> strikeforce. I wouldn't play him alone upfront at this stage.
>>
>> But adding more body to the attack without anybody creating anything
>> meant that Emenike and Ameobi were being underutilized. This is what
>> changed when Keshi finally substituted Azeez with Osaze. In Osaze,
>> the attackers finally found a creator who destabilized the Iran
>> defense, and the game changed. The fact that they didn't score at
>> that point was down to ill-luck.
>>
>> Ugo
>>
>> *G. Ugo Nwokeji*
>> *Director, Center for African Studies*
>> *Associate Professor of African American Studies
>> University of California, Berkeley
>> 686 Barrows Hall #2572
>> Berkeley, CA 94720
>> Tel. (510) 542-8140
>> Fax (510) 642-0318*
>> *Twitter: @UgoNwokeji*
>> *Facebook: facebook.com/ugo.nwokeji <http://facebook.com/ugo.nwokeji>*
>> *LinkedIn: *linkedin.com/profile/view?id=243610869
>> <http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=243610869>*
>> *
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 7:15 PM, Pablo <pidahosa@yorku.ca
>> <mailto:pidahosa@yorku.ca>> wrote:
>>
>> Wonderfully expressed Folu,
>>
>> The contrast between the freshness, thoughtful and generally
>> cohesive individual-team skills of Ghana and the headless
>> chicken approach of Nigeria was evident all to see. If anyone
>> watched the youth team play last year, in contrast to their
>> seniors, they play with more decisiveness and team work than this
>> lot on display. So dysfunctional and tepid, it was only when
>> Odemwingie came on that they appeared to show a deliberative
>> brain of movement and guile. Amongst many things, why was Moses
>> (who while not having a great game, has the capacity to be a
>> match winner) replaced by Ameobi, who personifies mediocrity, and
>> who is a bench player at Newcastle and then subsequently
>> released? My sense that Keshi holds grudges, as why did he not
>> choose Uche? As to Ambrose (amongst others?) does that man know
>> how to pass and defend? They may confound us yet, but against an
>> organized, disciplined and skillful Bosnia and Herzegovina
>> (bless them) and the yet-to-demonstrate-their-prowess Argentina,
>> they may well be over their head.
>>
>> Ghana did us all proud even in defeat. It's unfortunate that they
>> are in such a tough group, but they showed, as did coach Appiah,
>> the dignity of fearlessness and belief that at no time segued
>> into arrogance. They showed their history, and why they may again
>> be Africa's future-- I still see the belly of Nkrumah in the Back
>> Stars.
>>
>> Pablo
>>
>>
>> On 2014-06-17 7:07 PM, Folu Ogundimu wrote:
>>
>>> My brother,
>>> No need to lament yesterday's loss by the Black Stars. They gave
>>> a good account of themselves, the god of football was unkind to
>>> them yesterday. But this happens sometimes. I am as proud of his
>>> young, aggressive Ghana team as I am distressed by the lethargic
>>> and ugly display of the Super 'Chickens' of my own Nigeria
>>> yesterday.
>>>
>>> In today's football, the game's fortune sails better on the
>>> fleet-footed and skillful legs of the young, not tired old legs.
>>> See Spain's opening match. Ghana has lot going for them with
>>> this young team. All they need is a bit more tactical discipline
>>> and team cohesion.
>>>
>>> Folu
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>
>>> On Jun 17, 2014, at 7:18 AM, "Assensoh, Akwasi B."
>>> <aassenso@indiana.edu <mailto:aassenso@indiana.edu>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dear Brother Kwasi:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Many thanks for your very helpful World Cup Diary #3, which is
>>>> like a consolation prize in a lost competition.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> My two teenage sons, born in America but cheered yesterday
>>>> evenly for Ghana and America, can't believe that their father's
>>>> ancestral home (Ghana) soccer or football team would be
>>>> defeated so easily! They have pounded me with "Why, and What
>>>> happened, Dad" questions.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> My response to our two teenage sons (Kwadwo and Livingston
>>>> Kwabena Assensoh) was as simple as this: Ghana's national team,
>>>> the Black Stars, suffered from the "fatal disease of over
>>>> confidence".
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> We will continue to pray for Mother Ghana and the Black Stars
>>>> because as young Kwadwo reminded me, Ghana is still playing in
>>>> the group!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hopefully, Coach Kwasi Appiah -- our Kwasi/Akwasi name's sake
>>>> -- will, henceforth, open his ears and listening devices in
>>>> order to get advice so that he WILL now know how to start the
>>>> Black Stars for any international game: to use seasoned players
>>>> but not mainly novices! Amen!!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Coach Appiah should, please, make amends to do the right thing
>>>> (as Spike Lee of USA would admonish) because we cannot afford
>>>> and, also, we do not need the usual after Ghana /coup d'états'
>>>> /intellectual refrain and dissection of "What Went Wrong"
>>>> lectures!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> A.B. Assensoh.
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> *From:* Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng [gapenteng@outlook.com
>>>> <mailto:gapenteng@outlook.com>]
>>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 17, 2014 5:20 AM
>>>> *To:* Doris Dartey 3; GLU; pyaa@yahoo.com
>>>> <mailto:pyaa@yahoo.com>; Ebo Assan Donkoh; jkzorm2001@yahoo.com
>>>> <mailto:jkzorm2001@yahoo.com>; Camynta Baezie; Gheysika
>>>> Agambilla; Gina Afia Agbenu; Anthony Obeng Afrane; kabral
>>>> blay-amihere; Manu Herbstein; Ebo Assan Donkoh; Dinah Amankwah;
>>>> danappiah2@yahoo.com <mailto:danappiah2@yahoo.com>; Francis
>>>> Gbormittah; (ranst59@yahoo.com <mailto:ranst59@yahoo.com>);
>>>> akoto ampaw; Kofi Marrah; Esi Sutherland;
>>>> usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
>>>> <mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>;
>>>> (arhattah@hotmail.com <mailto:arhattah@hotmail.com>);
>>>> (kwatiokor@yahoo.com <mailto:kwatiokor@yahoo.com>); Gifty Anin;
>>>> Prof Aki Sawyerr; Naa Kwale Dove; (woeli@woelipublishing.com
>>>> <mailto:woeli@woelipublishing.com>); Ayo Amale;
>>>> (georgeksarpong@yahoo.co.uk
>>>> <mailto:georgeksarpong@yahoo.co.uk>); Nanabanyin Dadson; George
>>>> Koomson; Nii Adokwei; Afua Asafo-Adjei; Dorcas Ansah; Gina
>>>> Asare Fiagbenu; Achimota 2010; Amidu Tanko; Selby Ashong Katai;
>>>> (anneyayrasakyi@yahoo.com <mailto:anneyayrasakyi@yahoo.com>);
>>>> ABLA DZIFA GOMASHIE; Akosua Adomako Ampofo; Ivy Austin; Michael
>>>> Kwaku Somuah; Elikplim Akorli; Kafui Dey; Ruby Goka; Henry
>>>> Asampong 2; Nana K. A. Busia; Raymond Atuguba; Kojo Yankah;
>>>> Kofi Akpabli; Emmanuel Amoh; vicky wireko; kwami kayi; Mary
>>>> Ametowoblah; (efalconer@mtn.com.gh
>>>> <mailto:efalconer@mtn.com.gh>); Elikplim; Sylvanus Bedzrah;
>>>> Aaron Adyaye; Jojo Apenteng; Dr. Naana Mensah 2; Wendy Otu;
>>>> Noshie Iddisah; Johnson Ametorwo; Atukwei Okai; Assensoh,
>>>> Akwasi B.; Gladys; Enoch Avotri; Third Force; Emmanuel
>>>> Fiagbenu; Ernest Akore; ALEXANDER BANNERMAN; Victoria Odoi;
>>>> gphagan@lycos.com <mailto:gphagan@lycos.com>; Dinah Amankwah;
>>>> Eddie Ameyibor; Yao Graham 2; Briggite Dzobgenuku; kwasi
>>>> gyan-apenteng; Gifty Love Lartey [MTN Ghana - Finance];
>>>> (blay.gina@gmail.com <mailto:blay.gina@gmail.com>);
>>>> nyarkopong@hotmail.com <mailto:nyarkopong@hotmail.com>; Oswald
>>>> Okaitei; Joe Frazier; Awuradwoa Andoh; Akunu Dake;
>>>> claudia.donkor@gmail.com <mailto:claudia.donkor@gmail.com>;
>>>> crystaltvofficial2002@yahoo.com
>>>> <mailto:crystaltvofficial2002@yahoo.com>; Ebo Quansah; PaJohn
>>>> Bentsifi Dadson; Arthur Kennedy; naijaintellects; n naijanet2;
>>>> Fritz Baffour; (giftytweneboa@aol.com
>>>> <mailto:giftytweneboa@aol.com>); Akwasi Agyeman; Angela Dwamena
>>>> Aboagye; Ethel Ansah; Joyce Aryee; cameron duodu; Ebo Quansah;
>>>> Arthur Kennedy; kojokelly@yahoo.co.uk
>>>> <mailto:kojokelly@yahoo.co.uk>; Anthony Kweku Annan; Anthony
>>>> Ossei; Yvette Appiah; Welbeck Abra-Appiah; Stella W. Appenteng;
>>>> Nana Amoafo; nii moi; Nii Engmann; Paa Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng;
>>>> Okyeame Group; Adjei Baah Eric; Ofei Nkansah (Sax); Dr Kofi
>>>> Amoah; Esi Hammond; Jennifer Amansunu; Suleiman Braimah; Syd
>>>> Casely-Hayford; Audrey Gadzekpo; Ghanaweb Features; chuks
>>>> Iloegbunam
>>>> *Subject:* World Cup Diary 3
>>>>
>>>> Dear friends
>>>> please find my World Cup Diary 3 attached.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng
>>>> Consultant in Communication, Culture and Media
>>>> President, Ghana Association of Writers
>>>> Member, National Media Commission
>>>>
>>>> PAWA HOUSE
>>>> Roman Ridge, Accra
>>>>
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