In recent years Michael Essien has been one of the most vilified Ghanaian football stars (albeit not as pulled to pieces as Muntari) for his decision to put his Ghanaian career on hold for close to a year since recovering from an injury that put him out of the game he loves so much.
I guess many just felt disappointed they were not seeing their star midfield engine feature for Ghana.
But you’ve got to love Ghanaians. Even if they disagree with your style, they will still applaud you when you do something good.
Right from the Liberation Circle, otherwise called the Ridge Roundabout, the stretch of vehicular traffic had become painfully frustrating. The driver of the cab I hired wished he could fly over all the four-wheel drives which had virtually blocked his view to the Accra International Conference Centre. His disgust for the drivers of the ‘big cars’ was obvious as he kept describing them as rich 'lame' people.
Eventually I had to get down and walk to the Accra Sports Stadium as it was the only option if I was going to make it on time, and boy was I right. I joined other people who were fed up with the traffic jam to walk to the venue for the highly anticipated game between the World XI and Africa XI.
Some fans were already in a party mood while others just felt contented jogging to the stadium amidst ‘jama’ chants (songs sang during sporting activities to inspire teams).
The crowd was thickening outside the stadium and one could feel the frenzied atmosphere getting even more charged by the second.
I walked grudgingly to the main entrance on the South Western side of the stadium where a team of horse-riding Police and military officers were trying to manage a crowd that was ready to break down the cordons just so they can enter to go see their stars.
Some had tickets, others were desperately sniffing for loopholes to outwit the security system.
Access to the stadium was thus quite cumbersome but after a little shove and push here and there, I finally got in and headed for the press area. At least that was simple enough.
But imagine my surprise when I took my seat and noticed that the stadium was virtually full with a lot more people outside, waiting to get an opportunity to come see their stars glitter.
Voila! There they were, passing the ball around on both halves of the pitch. I could easily make out some of the players whom I have enjoyed watching on both television and at the various stadia:
Millionaires in their own right. Malouda, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Nigel De Jong, Kalusha Bwalya, Emmanuel Adebayor, Nwankwo Kanu, Freddy Ljiumberg and the Bison himself, Michael Essien.
It was all merry making for the crowd which was by no means one sided as they cheered all the players even when they were just stretching out on the field.
As the players walked back into the dressing room to get ready for the game, Ghana's young hi-life maestro, Kwabena Kwabena took to the field with a keyboardist from God-knows-where to thrill the increasingly deafening crowd with his soothing repertoire as well as a song on peace on the continent. Afterall, that was the essence of the event, no?
Game on
Asamoah Gyan joined Ghanaian dancehall artiste, Samini to do the dance moves on the pitch at half time.
Then came the time for the soldiers to march unto the pitch all clad in their jerseys ready to do battle.
The Police Band piped the AU anthem which the announcer called the AU 'National' Anthem and sent many wondering when the AU became a nation. Be that as it may, those who could not sing along (and I am sure it was everyone else including Gaddafi who was under fire in his country at the time) just nodded or did not really care what the words in the song meant.
But then they started singing, guess what, to the Ghana National anthem as the PA systems reverberated the rendition from the Police band.
Even the Drog (Didier Drogba) enjoyed it as he kept nodding. I did too and Stephen Appiah, as usual, could not hold back. This legend of Ghana football just makes singing the anthem so inspiring even for a charity game.
Come to think of it, sincerely, I was not going to trade the scenes at the stadium for all the Banku and Okro soup at Asanka Local. It was chaos when Essien lifted the flame of peace to signify the importance of the urgent need for tranquillity on the continent.
The fans just kept cheering with many others chanting “The Bull, The Bull”, another of Essien’s copious nicknames as a result of his sheer agility on the ball.
The game got off to a slow start after Emmanuel Adebayor had taunted his opponents on the other side, running past the World XI squad as if to say 'bring it on'. This dude was there to have fun; nothing less than fun.
It was the African XI who got off to a sweet start. A quick one two move between Paintsil and Stephen Appiah saw the latter cross the ball over to former African Player of the Year Kalusha Bwalya who nodded home for the first goal of the game.
Kalusha lacked the pace that used to threaten the rearguard of most teams on the continent and elsewhere but his movement on the ball clearly showed glimpses of his creative old self.
A few minutes after the goal, a white bird just flew across the stadium as if to endorse Essien’s quest for peace on the continent.
It even elicited applause from a section of the fans.
This seemed to have brought some life into the players on the other side captained by Chelsea’s Ashley Cole.
Richard Kingson was forced into a sublime save to deny Flourent Malouda from snatching an equaliser on the 19th minute whiles World XI skipper Ahsley Cole, glazed the crossbar with a lob over defender John Paintsil minutes later.
The Chelsea connection between Malouda and Ashley Cole was so visible as the two made John Paintsil’s task very cumbersome throughout the game. Asamoah ‘Baby Jet’ Gyan almost raced through the defense of the World XI until the ball was stolen off his feet by Manchester City’s Nigel De Jong. (Do you know it is even rumoured that he will be replacing Michael Essien at the Bridge next season.)
'Olele' Kingson made another classic save to deny them an equaliser but at that point, one could see it was just a matter of time before the World XI made the pressure count.
And, yes, it came in the 38th minute as Stock Smith put the ball beyond the reach of the keeper. The crowd cheered as though their favourite team had scored the winner in a World Cup game. The irony of a Ghanaian crowd! They love good football and they will cheer at the least display of rare skills.
Ashley Cole once again came close to scoring but Olele who was enjoying the afternoon saved his low drive. The game bounced back to life after a trifle lull.
Then the first substitution was effected by the coach of World XI, Marcelle Desailly. He introduced former Ghanaian goal poacher Yaw Preko for the goal scorer, Scot Smith and he made an immediate impact as his first shot on goal found the back of the net just when the first half was coming to an end, making it 2-1 against the African side.
One observation. Who says Stephen Appiah is anziano. For those of you who do not speak Italian, it means aged.
The country indirectly prematurely retired this Ghanaian hero. He was pacy on the ball, skillful in possession and his passes were spot on. Yes, I admit that the game was a 'non-scoring' one but nothing showed that he was taking it more seriously than the others because he was thoroughly having fun. Except his potent skill clearly became manifest again.
Just when the second half started, the heavens opened up its showers.
As if by design, the weather was perfect for football and as the rain fell heavily, it exposed an interesting but shameful side of our pitch. In not more than five minutes after the rain started, the pitch became soggy, making it virtually impossible to control the ball.
At one point, Nigel got so frustrated, he hit his head with the ball repeatedly after losing it to the pitch and tripping Gyan in the process.
This is shameful and even though people will gloss over it, the authorities need to take such a situation seriously and check the anomaly. It does not speak well of a country with football greats like Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah, Sammy Kufour and the organiser of the event, Michael Essien.
But for the squelchy pitch Africa XI would have suffered a more humiliating defeat as the stagnant water came to their rescue in most advances at their end.
The good thing is, the rains did not deter the fans from going ballistic as they danced and sang to cheer on players on both sides.
Didier Drogba came on for Gyan and also made his presence count as he almost immediately got the equaliser for the Africans.
Tony ‘yegoala’ Yeboah also replaced Nigerian football great Daniel Amokachi as the game wore on and it was evident that he was not the same deadly goal poacher he used to be.
Infact he was a mere spectator, and if the scoreline was to count, Coach Oppong Weah would have taken a heavy flak for weakening his side.
Then the World XI took the game by the scruff of the neck as they made incursions into the half of the Africans on so many occasions only being denied by the goalkeeper and the pitch. But they persisted and it finally paid off.
Malouda got on the score sheet after goalkeeper Kingston fumbled with a ball around the '18' yard box. A few minutes later Ashley Cole made it 4-2 when he drove in a trademark shot into the left bottom corner of the net.
All hope was lost. It was over. Referee Agbovi blew the whistle to end the game, an entertaining encounter at that.
The game was over and the message was unequivocal: Peace in the world but most importantly on the African continent is not a bargain. I hope the white bird sent the message to all African leaders and they better wake up!
I thoroughly enjoyed Gyan's dance moves and I hope it translates into more votes on the pitch. But what in God's name was Funny face doing running all over the pitch? I can't believe how... this guy can be? Funny though, really funny.
Did you spot the lady with the heavy behind who was doing the 'back-on-and-on' moves with Samini. Well, believe me she definitely turned some heads around.
Another point before I bring my blabbering to an end. Why did the soldiers on duty threaten the fans with their dogs after the game? It was unnecessary. It caused a stampede and this could have resulted in some serious injuries or even worse.
Crowd control is a strategy and they either wake up to the realities of today’s processes or stay in the barracks.
I saw people being trampled upon as the fans ran helter-skelter.
The fans just wanted to see their stars and even if you don’t want them to due to security arrangements, you don’t chase after them with dogs. They are not escaped convicts, at least?
The fans should learn to also behave themselves at public places like that, protocol is key!
Anyway! I doff my hat to Essien for bringing all these millionaires to Ghana. If for nothing at all, the Chelsea stars who came are all superstars in their own rights.
People revere them wherever they go and it was a pleasure to host them at the nation’s Wembley (which needs to be fixed).
I cannot wait to see Essien in the Black Stars again. Congrats Essien!
Author: Derick Romeo Adogla/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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