European Week Football tournament in Ghana

This week is European Week. Here in Ghana, a series of cultural events have been taking place, organised by EU Member States and the European Commission.

Football, being such an important cultural object in both Ghana and Europe, is again central to the celebrations. Therefore, a European Cup is taking place this Saturday May 6th, at the University of Legon in Accra. Each Member State and the European Commission in Ghana is sponsoring a Ghanaian u-12 team, who will then represent the given country. The tournament is played as a cup-system, and features the following clashes in the preliminary round:

• 7AM: ITALY (Gaddafi FC - Mamprobi)-EUROPEAN UNION (Shaka FC- La)
• 8 AM: GERMANY (Obono - La)-SPAIN (Barcelona FC Trade fair)
• 9 AM: GHANA ( Sarafina - Dansoman)-CZECH REP (Everton)
• 10 AM: FRANCE (Schweppes - nungua)-HOLLAND (Dezacs - Kwashieman)
• 11 AM: DENMARK (Mandela)-ENGLAND (Young Goldfields) - Osu
• 12: PRELIM WINNERS

As you can see, some major classics are taking place: Germany-Spain is a repeat of their famous preliminary round encounter in the Euro of 1988. Denmark-England is always an exciting match, going from the Euro 1992, to the World Cup in 2002, to the latest 4-1 humilliation of England in 2005. Notice also the Ghana-Czech Republic, which will be a preview to their clash in Germany this summer. The Czechs should be warned!
Finally, notice that Italy will face the EU team in the first round. An unwritten encounter: the Italians will surely rely on their "catenaccio" style to try to defeat the talented EU side.

I guess all are welcome to Legon this Saturday to see these exciting matches. I just hope the fans will behave. It is already being reported that hordes of European fans have arrived in Accra to support their teams in this important cup!

The worst that can happen a football fanatic

It is really bad to see your team humiliated. I was afraid this might happen by watching Real Madrid-Valencia, and so I was in doubt as if to watch it at all. In the end, I decided I might as well be brave and face the potential defeat in Madrid.

So I decided to go to my usual Sports Bar in Accra, Champs. I was more than delighted; the game was excellent. Valencia went ahead on a splendid free-kick by Baraja, after Zidane pathetically missed a non-existing penalty kick. Then Raul equalized on a lucky strike, and Valencia scored again on a non-existing penalty. The game had it all...

Then, 22 minutes into the second half, the staff at Champs decided to switch away from the game... Don't mind they have around 10 TV screens... No, they had to show a movie on all of them. Don't mind they had announced they would show Real Madrid-Valencia. Don't mind there were actually guys there watching the match...

A Sports Bar that does that is a joke of a Sports bar. One thing is that they would not show the match, another to announce it, and then turn it off in the middle of it. I am hereby starting my personal boycott against Champs in Accra. I had always gone there to watch football, and was very fond of the place. But to do this to a football fan is worse than pissing on him. Never go to Champs Sports Bar in Accra.

However, now I am delighted. Valencia won!!! They had not won in Madrid since 1999! But I missed it...

Football decoration at my work place

I work in a nice big office in a nice neighborhood of Accra, Ghana. Until recently, the decoration of the premises left much to be said.

Not any more!

Seems a major football fanatic just passed by (and I honestly swear that I didn't do it): In the halls, pictures of Ghanaian footballers have been hung up. These include pictures of Abedi Pele, Anthony Yeboah, Samuel Kuffour, Michael Essien, etc. All to remind us of the great football talent emanating from this beautiful West African country.

At the same time, in the meeting room, a human-size pap-mache statue is sitting with a football. Isn't this great...?

Does my work have anything to do with football? Not at all. But at least I get reminded of fotoball every day now...

The most annoying fans

Last night, after a long day at work, went directly to Champs, my sports bar in Accra, to watch the match between Arsenal and Chelsea. And somehow boring match, from which much more was expected, ended 0-0, and not really much to tell about it.

Many Ghanaians love either team. Last week, during Chelsea-Bayern Munich, had to listen to an obnoxious man in a Chelsea shirt during the whole match. Last night, here was there again. Now just as an Arsenal fan. And just as annoying. At least there were other annoying Chelsea fans to level him off. Talking about sell-outs...

Liverpool-Juventus

Last week, on the evening these two great teams were playing in the Champions League quarterfinals, I was invited for a reception at the Royal Danish Embassy in Ghana, to meet the visiting Danish Mister of Development. What should I choose? To mingle among my countrymen whom I can talk work with? Or after a long day of work, go to Champs Sports Bar (Accra) and watch these great teams?

I went to watch the game.

The match wasn't great. Liverpool did what they had to do, and did it well. The Juventus attack was a disappointment in the face of Mr. Benitez' disciplined side. Liverpool deserves to be in the semifinal, but will almost certainly have their hands full against Chelsea.

And just an anecdote from the game:

Americans are not known for being great "soccer" fanatics, in spite of the growth of the sport in the United States. Now, I was joined in Champs for this game, by a good American friend. She seemed interested in following what was going on, and in situations like that, I am only too happy to share my football-knowledge. At one point, she asked "Why is the referee kicking that other guy?". I let the question go, but then she said "the referee seems really involved. What is his role?". At this point I realized that she thought Juventus players, with their black and white striped shirts, were referees... "Well, in the US the referees in games wear black and white stripes", she tried to defend herself. But at this point, I was already cracking up in laughter.

Real Madrid-Barcelona

I had been waiting with excitement for this match for a long time. A match set up with the legends of former times, with many of the greatest players on the pitch. And with the rest of the world of football fanatics, I was not disappointed. The match was absolutely extraordinary from the first moment!
I watched the match in a sports bar in Accra, Champs, with a bunch of friends who know nothing about football. However, even they could see the marvels of this match, and it even angered me a bit when some would lift their arms at Madrid’s beautiful goals.
I do not like Madrid, but I can see when they do something brilliant. Specially Iker Casillas, was amazing, again tonight, and is on the way of becoming the world’s greatest goalkeeper.
Now, Barcelona is “only” 6 points ahead in the Spanish Primera Division. I hope they will become champions.
My dear Valencia is out. I just hope they might get the Champions League spot!

Football fanatic of the year nominee 1

The year has just started, but I have my first nominee for the football fanatic of the year 2005.
The fans of Asante Kotoko. Last Sunday, as the final of the African Confederations Cup between Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak went into penalty kicks, the excitement, nerves and euforia led to dozens of Kotoko fans simply fainting. On TV, I saw many people being carried away by medics.
While I certainly hope they all are doing well, and recuperating well (not only in health but also in spirit), the passion shown for the game and their team, should make them the very first nominee.

Party in Accra!

The second leg of the African Confederations Cup final took place in Kumasi yesterday. Asante Kotoko had the upper hand after a 1-1 in Accra, and were set to take the title. But after a spirited fight and very exiting game, things proved differently.
Hearts of Oak came out with a much better fight than they had done in the first match. At the same time, Kotoko seemed happy to wait for Hearts to come to them, and did not attack much in front of their home crowd.
Five minutes into the second half, things seemed to go Kotoko's way, when Charles 'the terror' Taylor brought the home team ahead, to the spectacular joy of the home crowd.

But Hearts of Oak has the reputation of never giving up. In the first match they equalized in the last minute, and this time, they started attacking, while Kotoko coach Hans Dieter Schmidt, strangely brought in extra defenders.
Ten minutes before full-time, Lawrence Adjei scored the equalizer for Hearts, and the game went into a nerve-wrecking penalty shoot-out.
The players were actually excellent shooters, and the shoot-out went into the 8th kick, when Kotoko Captain Hendricks missed, and in the subsequent kick, Hearts took the trophy.

Celebrations erupted in Accra. I think many are still partying!

Accra Hearts of Oak-Asante Kotoko

Not wholly passed my new years hangover, I went to watch the 1st leg of the Final of the African Confederations Cup, on January 2nd. First time ever two teams of the same country, namely Ghana, face one another in this prestigious tournament.
Hearts of Oak, the home team from Accra for the first leg, boasts a young and talented side, while Asante Kotoko, from the city of Kumasi, has an experienced side, which are currently defending champions of Ghana.
Since these teams are by far the two main teams in the country, they have a very strong rivalry that before has led to violence, so a lot of police and military was out for this game.

It was a burning hot Sunday afternoon, and I was surprised to see the quick pace which Hearts of Oak started with. In spite of some shaky flanks, Asante Kotoko's defense was very strong, centered around their captain Joe Hendricks. But the strikers of Hearts were at the same time not looking too good, and as the game progressed, Kotoko got more and more into the match.
The best player of the match was a small offensive midfielder in Kotoko, Stephen Oduro. Small in size, but with excellent technique, speed and physical stubborness he completely dominated the midfield. After one hour, it was also a strong run from him, which gave Kotoko a free kick outside the area. Although a good kick by former-Hearts player Charles Taylor, the keeper should have had it. Instead, he dropped the ball right on the feet of Michael Osei, who scored without problem.
After this, the experience of Kotoko shined through, while the inexperience of Hearts
became obvious, as the home-crowd grew more and more impatient. It seemed Kotoko's substitutions were excellent, while Hearts coach was waiting way too long before changing anything on a team that was looking more and more disillusioned.
The game went into 4 minutes injury time. In the last second of the injury time, a somewhat weak shot from outside, by young Hearts striker Louis Agyemang, equalized the match. A shame for Kotoko's goalkeeper, George Owu, who had otherwise played an excellent match.
Kotoko was understandably disappointed, having lost victory in the dying seconds. However, next Sunday they will have a fanatic crowd behind them, as they host the young Hearts team in Kumasi. I would put my money on Kotoko.

A jubilant Michael Osei after scoring

New Ghana national coach

I was recently going for a late evening run in Accra, near my house, when I had the pleasure of running by the Ghana football Association. Noticing much going on there, I later realized that there had been a presentation of the new national coach of the 'Black Stars'. This is the fifth national coach in two years time.
Ratomir Dujkovic, from Serbia, is the man who will hopefully lead Ghana to its first ever world cup appearance in Germany in 2006.
I hope it works, but Ghanaian national teams seem to be very unstable in spite of the great talent. There is work to do for Mr. Dujkovic, but I wish him all the best!