South African support for the Black Stars of Ghana has been incredible. When five of the African teams failed
to make it past the first round of the Soccer World Cup it was bitterly disappointing for those who believed that this was Africa’s turn, if not to win the Cup, at least to make it past the quarter finals.
South African support for the Black Stars of Ghana has been incredible. When five of the African teams failed
to make it past the first round of the Soccer World Cup it was bitterly disappointing for those who believed that this was Africa’s turn, if not to win the Cup, at least to make it past the quarter finals.
But it was not to be, as only Ghana made it to the round of eight. Once the other teams had been eliminated, all of Africa, and especially South Africans, turned to the Black Stars as a beacon of hope in this prestigious tournament.
The expectations of the entire continent then rested on the shoulders of the squad from Ghana what a massive responsibility carrying the dreams of almost a billion Africans.
In a terrible, bitter moment of disappointment the aspirations of a continent crashed into the crossbar of the Uruguayan goals in the last seconds of extra-time.
Whoever imagined that soccer could be such a cruel game to cause so much pain to so many people? It is interesting however, that Ghana appeared to be the chosen country to lead the continent.
It is the same country, under the leadership of the charismatic Kwame Nkrumah, that led the continent in the struggle against colonialism.
Ghana was one of the first African countries to throw off the shackles of its imperial master and also develop the concept of Pan Africanism.
Nkrumah firmly believed that in order for Africa to earn its rightful place in the sun, all the people in the continent needed to work together to build up an African identity.
Other statesmen have tried to follow his lead, but it can be argued that the Ghanaian soccer team has done more than its iconic leaders to nurture a sense of Pan Africanism.
The Black Stars received a hero’s welcome in Johannesburg and the continent’s senior statement, Nelson Mandela personally congratulated the team on its performance.
No other team has received such adulation. It is then perhaps an honour that Grahamstown is currently hosting John Kufuor, the former president of a small country with a big role to play.
