On Monday evening, I received one of the best birthday presents ever! I had the great pleasure of enjoying another evening with the Black Stars, after the amazing experience at Wembley Stadium earlier this year when Ghana drew against England.
This time around, I couldn’t have got any closer to the action, sitting in the front row at the away end with my sister, some friends and oh, just a few thousand excited Black Star supporters.
This time around, I couldn’t have got any closer to the action, sitting in the front row at the away end with my sister, some friends and oh, just a few thousand excited Black Star supporters.
We found our seats just after the starting 11 had been announced, so it wasn’t until the match began that I started spotting some familiar faces. Despite not having their names on the back of their shirts, I could identify Ronaldinho (who seems to be saying no to the burgers now, #nomaliciousintent), and Alves of Brazil and from Ghana: Muntari and Pantsil (returning to his old home ground).
The match was refereed by Mike Dean and the atmosphere around Craven Cottage was lively from kick off. On the pitch, Ghana’s energetic start in the opening minutes seemed to unnerve the opposition, creating several promising opportunities that tested the Brazilian defence. Their enthusiasm was matched by the crowd, with chants of “Away! Away!” and attempts to start a Mexican wave, despite the weather taking a turn for the worst.
The match was refereed by Mike Dean and the atmosphere around Craven Cottage was lively from kick off. On the pitch, Ghana’s energetic start in the opening minutes seemed to unnerve the opposition, creating several promising opportunities that tested the Brazilian defence. Their enthusiasm was matched by the crowd, with chants of “Away! Away!” and attempts to start a Mexican wave, despite the weather taking a turn for the worst.
Even the onset of rain didn’t dampen the spirits of my friends and I, as we sheltered under our scarves and broke open a bag of the most sophisticated of pitch-side snacks: pistachios! As we munched away, from where we were sitting, it appeared Brazil had scored. Brazil's supporters jumped to their feet and cheered, but this celebration was short-lived as murmurs of offside reached our end of the pitch.
Moments later, some real bad news arose. Mike Dean, who issued seven yellow cards to Ghana and only two to Brazil throughout the entire match, was completely fooled by Lucio going to ground after a light challenge by Daniel Opare. See how Cesar and Alves convince Lucio to make a meal of the challenge (right).
The Brazilian players had been flailing like fish out of water and mimicking crocodile death rolls, as though they had graduated from the Joey Barton School of Diving.
The Brazilian players had been flailing like fish out of water and mimicking crocodile death rolls, as though they had graduated from the Joey Barton School of Diving.
And with his sympathetic eye, the ref sent off Opare in the first half with a second yellow card. Captain for the evening, John Pantsil, tried to console the aggrieved youngster, but he retreated towards the tunnel with a forlorn look on his face.
Minutes later, just before half time, Brazil scored and this time the offside flag remained down. The Brazilian fans went wild and at the away end there was silence.
Minutes later, just before half time, Brazil scored and this time the offside flag remained down. The Brazilian fans went wild and at the away end there was silence.
Half time entertainment consisted of a band and scantily-clad Brazilian dancers in carnival costume, shimmying in the rain in the centre circle on the pitch. The only men with disgruntled faces were the groundsmen with their pitchforks who were none too pleased to see the dancers tearing up the pitch surface with their moves!
As the players returned, we got a better look at Ghana’s goalkeeper for the evening, Adam Kwaresey. I had assumed Richard Kingson had been at the other end and was a bit confused to see this unfamiliar face walking towards the goal. However, he put in an impressive performance.
As the players returned, we got a better look at Ghana’s goalkeeper for the evening, Adam Kwaresey. I had assumed Richard Kingson had been at the other end and was a bit confused to see this unfamiliar face walking towards the goal. However, he put in an impressive performance.
During the match there were plenty of comical moments, but as the second half got underway, they started coming thick and fast. There was the random guy who ran down to the front row for stewards to open up the barriers and let him on as a Ghana substitute.
Each time substitutions were announced over the tannoy, he ran down with a look of sheer frustration and disbelief that they had not called his name. He first appeared in the Ghana red and yellow kit (Ghana were playing in their white kit) running up and down the stairs to warm up. As members of the Black Stars team staff made their way over to the dug-out before the second half, he
appealed to a man carrying water bottles to consider him for substitution. At one stage he was calling to the referee, with his comrades rolling their hands to symbolise a substitution, while he did very energetic frog leaps!
appealed to a man carrying water bottles to consider him for substitution. At one stage he was calling to the referee, with his comrades rolling their hands to symbolise a substitution, while he did very energetic frog leaps!
And then, acknowledging his incorrect kit choice, he reappeared later wearing the white kit, professing his readiness to go on for his country. The Ghana supporters appreciated his 'never say die' enthusiasm and cheered for his substitution! Notice the steward's facial expression- he wants to laugh, but he controls himself!
During the excitement, one of my friends asked me to take a picture of the leprechaun with her camera. Never before have I been so confused in all my life! There I was, seriously searching for a
mischievous-looking little Irish man on the pitch, until she pointed towards the guy behind me and I burst into fits of laughter! This is who she described as the leprechaun.
mischievous-looking little Irish man on the pitch, until she pointed towards the guy behind me and I burst into fits of laughter! This is who she described as the leprechaun.
Leprechaun indeed- the lesser known Ghanaian equivalent!
Also spotted, were people wearing t-shirts with the words ‘We will rub pepper in your eyes’ and a large Ghana flag at the top of the stands with ‘jollof’ written on it!
A sure highlight of the game was Ronaldinho’s epic failure to kick the ball from a corner. His miss-kick sent the ball skidding out for a goal kick, and provoked calls of “lazy boy” from Ghanaian fans! His broad smile either showed he had taken the teasing in good humour, or his mouth naturally falls like this due to his lack of orthodontic intervention? #nomaliciousintent
A sure highlight of the game was Ronaldinho’s epic failure to kick the ball from a corner. His miss-kick sent the ball skidding out for a goal kick, and provoked calls of “lazy boy” from Ghanaian fans! His broad smile either showed he had taken the teasing in good humour, or his mouth naturally falls like this due to his lack of orthodontic intervention? #nomaliciousintent
Brazil largely bossed the match in the second half and the score unfortunately remained at 1-
nil. With the players trading shirts after the final whistle, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd; a Ghanaian fan had made it onto the pitch!
nil. With the players trading shirts after the final whistle, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd; a Ghanaian fan had made it onto the pitch!
He obviously missed this sign as he clambered over it!
The lone pitch invader made a frenzied dash from near the exit tunnel. With the speed of Usain Bolt and the grace of a gazelle, he dazzled the crowd with his skilful bobbing and weaving passed pitifully cumbersome stewards who struggled to keep up. Each time he vaulted a steward, the crowd cheered louder and it looked like he was aiming to do a lap of the pitch until he headed back across to where he had come and unfortunately tripped and fell, before being dived upon, pinned down and arrested by a gang in hi-vis jackets. Poor guy!
To my disappointment, on TV, they do all they can to avoid showing pitch invaders, but this isn’t TV so I will not deny this man his 10 seconds of fame!
Overall, I can’t accept this as a true loss for The Black Stars because they were playing one of the best footballing nations in the world with only 10 men for a significant portion of the match. And with Baby Jet, I feel as though they would have scored, or at least been more threatening up front; the strike force just wasn’t convincing enough without Gyan.
As with their match at Wembley jubilant celebrations seem to be a compulsory post-match affair for Ghanaian fans, win, lose or draw.
As with their match at Wembley jubilant celebrations seem to be a compulsory post-match affair for Ghanaian fans, win, lose or draw.
Ofcourse, this blog wouldn't be complete without something relating to YouLike IMake. And here are the Go Go Ghana studs I made the day before and wore at the match.
Go Go Ghana Studs!
And for those who were curious… I didn’t catch sight of Mr Idris Elba! If he really was present, he must have been sheltered in a private box somewhere.
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