Excitement filled the peaceful atmosphere, the voices of old and young alike can be heard on the radio stations voicing their opinions about the Black Stars. Are there new coaches in town?! I wonder.
This is such a familiar feeling, a feeling just before a major tournament. A time where foes become friends and the sun just for a few weeks stand still once again in Africa; this time in Egypt as the country prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations.
After an underwhelming performances in the qualifiers, the Black Stars once again qualified for the continental showpiece with the aim of becoming legends by winning the prestigious trophy that has eluded the country for the last 37 years.
With just a few days for Kwasi Appiah to announce his squad, the country’s dreadful disaster just before a major tournament: Hurricane Controversy strikes again.
The nation was not prepared, citizens never anticipated it will happen this time around either as they can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel after several days in darkness for Ghanaian football.
The glamorous white colour of excitement was suddenly replaced with the gloomy black colour of sadness and anger.
What could be the cause this time?
Asamoah Gyan’s sudden retirement from the national team due to a decision by head coach Kwasi Appiah to strip him off the captain’s armband, only for him to make a sharp turn like Lewis Hamilton at the Shanghai Grand Prix to rescind his decision 41 hours later at the request of the President of Ghana.
Apparently, the Black Stars captain’s armband is now a “holy grail” at the expense of the prestigious Afcon trophy – for a modern day legend of the game for his country to make a selfish decision without any thought of interest for the National Team.
Not to add salt to injury, but compared to our rivals, we have the least quality side and hurricane controversy was the last thing we needed to happen to this current Black Stars
No doubt, hearts have been broken, old wounds been opened by this incident, but the catalyst to mend the broken hearts and heal the wounds of the people in the country is unity.
Unity as they say, ‘is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved’.
It might be difficult to come back from the horrors of hurricane controversy – but that does not mean is impossible. Just as Rome was not built in a day, the people need time to rise up from the horrors of hurricane controversy and work together as a nation to achieve a wonderful thing in Egypt.
