Public Agenda (Accra)
Dr. Kwame Osei
6 November 2009
opinion
Like many Ghanaians, I was excited to see the Black Satellites crowned in the Under 20 World Football Champions in the tournament that just ended in Egypt. As a nation we must be extremely proud of the boys who did the unthinkable a few weeks back and beat the mighty Brazil to be crowned World Champions.
There are many lessons to be learnt from their victory which can be used to positively impact on Ghana and Africa as a whole.
The first, as in the unforgettable words of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is that the black man is capable of managing his own affairs.
This sentiment was admirably demonstrated and executed by Black Satellites Coach, Sellas Tetteh who should be handsomely rewarded for guiding Ghana into this unprecedented feat. Tetteh, like Nkrumah, was confident of his own ability and knew that he had the right players to win the Under 20 World Cup, even if those around him doubted his abilities.
Tetteh showed that when given the opportunity and a level playing field the Black man is indeed more than capable of managing his own affairs. Tetteh's guile and management skills were brought to the fore in this tournament as he guided the Black Satellites through the group stages and thereafter into the knock out stages.
However, Tetteh's astute tactical nose was clinically evident in the final against the much feared Brazilians.
Tetteh did not panic when Ghana went down to 10 men after 37 minutes. It would have been easier for Tetteh to sacrifice one of the forward players for a defensive player but his tactical mind urged him to keep faith with the 10 men.
His management skills were highlighted when after going down to 10 men he instilled a can do spirit and never say die attitude in the team. With his captain Dede Ayew showing the way it was a marvelous display by the Black Satellites to keep Brazil at bay for the remainder of normal time until the game was decided on penalties.
If this same can do spirit is instilled in Ghana and Africa as a whole we will be a force to be reckoned with. There is nothing that cannot be achieved with this can do spirit.
Apart from this, it showed that Ghana, and for that matter Africa, does not need a White coach to guide it to success - Tetteh and his back room staff showed this to the fullest. This magnificent feat achieved by Sellas Tetteh should serve as an enormous inspiration to other African countries and rid this crazy myth that an African country cannot win a MAJOR football tournament without the services of a White coach.
The lesson from Sellas Tetteh is that the leadership of Ghana and Africa should remember that they too are blessed with knowledge and the ability to manage their own affairs. They should not think that only the White man or the Indian or Chinese is capable of solving their problems.
There is a saying that Africa's problems will be solved by only be Africans themselves.
This brings us nicely to the next lesson from the Black Satellites victory, which is unity and team work. Throughout the Under 20 World Championship Tournament, The Black Satellites showed a great degree of teamwork and unity in reaching the finals. This was further highlighted in the finals itself.
Again when the Black Satellites went down to 10 men after sending off Eric Addo, they did not allow it to affect them. Normally when a team goes down to 10 men, spirits go down and the opposing team takes the advantage but the Black Satellites through a tremendous purpose of Unity got together and played as a complete team to thwart the intense attacks from Brazil.
This showed that against all the odds, team work and unity can win the day. Therefore on another level Ghana as a country and Africa as a continent should unite and stop the petty squabbling based on tribe, religion, gender and so forth and unite as one people with a common destiny, that is, to see the total economic emancipation of Ghana and Africa from Western and Asian domination.
One great lesson to learn from this inspiring victory is the notion that small countries cannot compete with so-called bigger nations. When the tournament started, Brazil was identified as the overwhelming favourites to win the tournament because of their football reputation and their apparent superiority.
However what Ghana demonstrated in the finals is that being a so-called big team does not necessarily mean that you can have your way and a small country cannot challenge or even beat you.
This should show to the leadership of Ghana and Africa that they should not be fearful of bigger nations just because they appear to more economically powerful than they are. With confidence in one's abilities and strong unfearful leadership qualities, there is no reason why Ghana cannot compete and stand its ground against the countries and institutions of the developed world and do what is in her national interest.
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