It would be pointless to try and ignore the biggest event in Ghana this year. On Sunday the 26th Africa Cup of Nations will open with a match between Ghana’s Black Stars and Guinea at the newly refurbished Ohene Djan Stadium in the centre of Accra. To be hosting the tournament and to be tipped as a strong contender to win it, has given Ghana its biggest high in...well, 10 months since the peak of the 50th anniversary of independence celebrations. There are flags everywhere in Koforidua, no self respecting taxi driver is without one. I will be in Accra on Monday and no doubt they will be in even greater abundance there. Street sellers have t-shirts, a wide assortment of hats, key rings, banners and so on and they are praying more than anyone that the Black Stars make it past the first round. Thursday’s ‘Daily Graphic’, the biggest selling newspaper here devoted the entire edition to the competition, with the exception of one article inside the back cover about the national security minister who was recently sacked by the president and is now alleged to be under house arrest.
Ghanaians love football and it is frequently the topic of conversation. I am regularly asked which my favourite team is and my interrogator usually tells me his (very rarely her) favourite is Chelsea and this is usually because of the presence of one Michael Essien, the nation’s footballing hero. My current claim to fame is that I met somebody who was actually on the same ‘plane as him coming in from Heathrow on Wednesday. It will surprise nobody who knows me, that I have not seen the man play football, but I am familiar with him from his regular appearances in advertising campaigns. He is apparently a big advocate of Guinness and his secret is apparently Fanyogo, a frozen pink yoghurt product.
Advertising generally for the tournament is big business. While we were in Tamale in November huge hoardings appeared right across the main highway almost over night, advertising MTN the main sponsor of the event. Even the government has got in on the act, with posters stating that by paying their taxes Ghanaians will be supporting the Black Stars.
It has been quite a race to get the four stadia and the entire supporting infrastructure ready for the tournament. The nation now holds its breath to see how the Black Stars perform on Sunday. There is some anxiety because the team captain, Stephen Appiah is injured and out of the tournament. Coach Claud LeRoy has assured fans that Appiah will be with the team throughout the tournament to lend moral support. “He brings something extra. He is the natural leader of this team, so it will be great to have him with us.”
My interest in all this? Well I’ve been eating Special Edition Stars Rice (‘Support the Black Stars to Victory’), I bought the T-shirt (down in the docks in Takoradi, of all places) and I’m going (along with six other volunteers) to Ghana’s last first round game in Accra against Morocco, tipped to be Ghana’s most serious competitor in Group A.
Ghanaians love football and it is frequently the topic of conversation. I am regularly asked which my favourite team is and my interrogator usually tells me his (very rarely her) favourite is Chelsea and this is usually because of the presence of one Michael Essien, the nation’s footballing hero. My current claim to fame is that I met somebody who was actually on the same ‘plane as him coming in from Heathrow on Wednesday. It will surprise nobody who knows me, that I have not seen the man play football, but I am familiar with him from his regular appearances in advertising campaigns. He is apparently a big advocate of Guinness and his secret is apparently Fanyogo, a frozen pink yoghurt product.
Advertising generally for the tournament is big business. While we were in Tamale in November huge hoardings appeared right across the main highway almost over night, advertising MTN the main sponsor of the event. Even the government has got in on the act, with posters stating that by paying their taxes Ghanaians will be supporting the Black Stars.
It has been quite a race to get the four stadia and the entire supporting infrastructure ready for the tournament. The nation now holds its breath to see how the Black Stars perform on Sunday. There is some anxiety because the team captain, Stephen Appiah is injured and out of the tournament. Coach Claud LeRoy has assured fans that Appiah will be with the team throughout the tournament to lend moral support. “He brings something extra. He is the natural leader of this team, so it will be great to have him with us.”
My interest in all this? Well I’ve been eating Special Edition Stars Rice (‘Support the Black Stars to Victory’), I bought the T-shirt (down in the docks in Takoradi, of all places) and I’m going (along with six other volunteers) to Ghana’s last first round game in Accra against Morocco, tipped to be Ghana’s most serious competitor in Group A.
No comments:
Post a Comment