Kwasi, our "Miracle-Promoting" Commentator:
Thank you very much for reminding us that there is something called a miracle, especially in sports!
In human life that is why I keep on telling my teenage sons that, due to a miracle taking place, nobody should ever take me off a life-support machine. Then, my 18-year old, who is learning science very fast, asked: "Even when you are in a vegetative state?" I answered: "I will still hope for a miracle."
In order not to make these young sons feel that their "old man" fears death, I simply say that I learnt from my earlier Roman Catholic upbringing (as a teenager) that there is something called a "miracle". Should we, then, dare pray for a 2-1 or 3-2 miraculous victory for the Black Stars in their impending World Cup football (soccer) match against Germany? Also, just as Redskins are thinking about a name change, should we dare think about one for the "Black Stars", for the sake -- this time -- of seeking good luck or hope through a miracle with a new name like "Gold Stars" or "Diamond Stars"?
A.B. Assensoh.
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2014 9:07 AM
To: Doris Dartey 3; GLU; pyaa@yahoo.com; Ebo Assan Donkoh; 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; Francis Gbormittah; (ranst59@yahoo.com); akoto ampaw; Kofi Marrah; Esi Sutherland; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com; (arhattah@hotmail.com); (kwatiokor@yahoo.com); Gifty Anin; Prof Aki Sawyerr; Naa Kwale Dove; (woeli@woelipublishing.com); Ayo Amale; (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); 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); 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; Dinah Amankwah; Eddie Ameyibor; Yao Graham 2; Briggite Dzobgenuku; kwasi gyan-apenteng; Gifty Love Lartey [MTN Ghana - Finance]; (blay.gina@gmail.com); nyarkopong@hotmail.com; Oswald Okaitei; Joe Frazier; Awuradwoa Andoh; Akunu Dake; claudia.donkor@gmail.com; crystaltvofficial2002@yahoo.com; Ebo Quansah; PaJohn Bentsifi Dadson; Arthur Kennedy; naijaintellects; n naijanet2; Fritz Baffour; (giftytweneboa@aol.com); Akwasi Agyeman; Angela Dwamena Aboagye; Ethel Ansah; Joyce Aryee; cameron duodu; Ebo Quansah; Arthur Kennedy; 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
Subject: World Cup Diary 4
World Cup Diary 4
LET US WAVE THE FLAG FOR VICTORY
………as Spain’s exit gives us hope
Spare a thought for Spain. The European and World champions are the first reigning kings of world football to go out of the tournament so ignominiously. They lost both their opening matches with a collection of seven balls from their own net. In some ways their two nil defeat to Chile which effectively sealed their exit warrant must be more painful than the earlier five goals to one drubbing at the hands of the Dutch. At least, there was light at the end of the tunnel after the first match; Wednesday’s defeat meant lights out for Spain whose King Juan Carlos signed his own abdication warrant earlier that day in the national Parliament in Madrid.
One almost feels Spain’s pain; almost, but not quite because by some strange logic, Spain’s loss gives Ghana a glimmer of hope. This is how the roundabout logic works: this World Cup has been full of surprises. Apart from the fall of Spain, Brazil’s lucky draw against Mexico and Australia’s valiant loss by 2-3 to the Netherlands are part of the narrative of surprise which is becoming a dominant motif of the tournament.
Thus, the thinking is that since the mighty are falling, so to speak, why should Ghanaians not dare hope that Germany will fall and add to the story of uncertainty and levelling that is taking place in Brazil. Indeed, much as I hate to remind us of our pain, I need to add that the victory of the US over the Black Stars is in some vicarious way part of the script that might yet take us to centre stage. By the way just to let you know how much the win over Ghana meant to the USA, the Wikipedia entry of John Brooks, the scorer of their second goal has been amended to read “the greatest American since Abraham Lincoln”!
As many Ghanaians see it, or wish to see it, Ghana will beat Germany because Chile has beaten Spain and Brazil struggled against Mexico while Holland was not too convincing against Australia. Honestly, this is clutching at straws but some straws are attached some deeply rooted trees. At least, we lose nothing by holding on to our dream.
But let us be realistic. The match against Germany is the last realistic hope to stake a claim to the knockout stage. I was not hopeful from the moment the draw put us in the company of Germany, Portugal and the USA. I know that in these febrile times pessimism is almost equated to being unpatriotic so one towed the official line which ran something like this: Ghana would beat the USA and draw with Germany or Portugal which could be enough depending on other results. The wilder fringes in our society even predicted three wins out of three for the Black Stars. There is no law against dreaming; not even daydreaming.
So, we are (or must be) optimistic that a miracle is about to unfold in Brazil. Given that there are more prophets in Ghana than in the Old Testament, I am surprised that we have not had a more definitive prediction about the result. A friend claims that she saw the Ghana defeat in a dream so I have advised her against dreaming or to wake up if she feels a dream coming about the German match. But dreams and nightmares aside, it is possible that the match against Germany could be our last meaningful engagement for Brazil 2014.
If that happens it would be sad not because of what we would have failed to achieve on the field but for the missed opportunity it represents in the broader world outside sports . We ought to have used our participation in the World Cup to strengthen our national unity, brand the nation in a specific way announce to the world that Ghana is open for business.
Fortunately, as the Akan proverb says, “it is bent but not broken is the king of all proverbs”. This means we should be happy to salvage the best we can from a seemingly hopeless situation. Let us the next 48 hours to send the strongest support for the team Let us wave the flag, show the colours and walk the talk. In any way we can let us show the red, gold and green.
As the World Cup 2010 song says in part:
Every nation, all around us
Singin' forever young
Singin' songs underneath the sun
Lets rejoice in the beautiful game
And together at the end of the day
We all say
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom Just like a wavin' flag
Now wave your flag
Now wave your flag
World Cup Diary 4
gapenteng@outlook.com
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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