With all the uncertainties surrounding the annual national Premier League, it is no wonder that the whole national attention is geared towards the continental club championships — the CAF Champions League which has Ashgold competing and the CAF Confederation Cup which beckons the relatively young Medeama SC of Tarkwa.
Interestingly, the continental football body, CAF has no problem with the running of its affairs quite opposite to what we are experiencing in this country.
Last Sunday, while the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and all stakeholders were locked up in serious negotiations to resolve all the impasse which has become a dent on the reputation of our august body, Ashgold were on top of affairs pounding their field in a competition against their Algeria’s Mouloudia Olympique Bejaia.
The Algerians, who have for the past few years established themselves as the nemesis of our dear Kumasi Asante Kotoko in their continental competition, could not be scared by the Obuasi lads who once in the 1990’s went as far as the grand finale of the same competition.
Yes, they came down with a well-rehearsed strategy to resist all threats of a heavy defeat and went back home with a lone goal defeat.
That was a match described sincerely by observers as a typically difficult encounter for Ashgold and one of the best in recent times. With a single goal lead in the first half, nobody needs to tell Ashgold that what is ahead of them could be a matter of life or death.
Indeed, one can trust the Algerians to use all sorts of methods to halt Ashgold’s progress in the championship. Of course, the Algerians are strong fighters when it comes to continental club championships, even though they are occasionally vulnerable to our teams.
It will be recalled that the Algerians had to play with 10 men for almost half an hour during last Sunday's match when one of their hacking defence men was shown the exit for a second bookable offence, they could not be intimidated by the Obuasi crowd nor the team.
Even after their numerical disadvantage, they did everything for the kill, knowing that a draw away could finish the competition or help them to ease the task ahead.
Coach Bashir Hayford of Ashgold is a man of great confidence, and for sure he has urged his boys to be extra resolute in the second leg in Algiers to qualify for the next stage.
Indeed, the "Aboakese" lads are quite experienced and could be relied on to pull a big surprise in the second leg, however tough. Agile goalkeeper Robert Dabuo and his able defenders, Joshua Tijani, Eric Opoku, Hudu Yakubu are expected to find ways and means to handle the front runners of Bejaia, and no matter how, keep the resolve of not allowing their opposing dangerous attackers to reach their 18-yard box.
Every football lover in this country is very hungry for continental glory, and for that Ashgold must be the cynosure of all eyes, and they cannot afford to disappoint their fans and the nation as a whole.
Meanwhile, Medeama SC, the MTN FA Cup holders after beating Ashgold for the Super Cup, must be gearing up for a strong challenge on their Confederation Cup assignment which was last won by a Ghanaian club, Accra Hearts of Oak in the year 2004. The nation has its fingers crossed for that unique success.
Coach Marcus Christian Strand and his team have said that they would make sure they do not miss it this year.
The coach has said that he would make sure to leave a mark in this country before leaving for his native Sweden after his contract.
He, has therefore, notified the followers of the game after his 2-1 triumph over Kumasi Asante Kotoko and his 1-0 win over Ashgold for the Super Cup that there is a strong pressure from his family to return home.
He recently told the press that this is his last year for Medeama, but did not know what the future holds.
"I have a family back home in Sweden. So I would love to go home and continue my job in Europe," the 32-year old Swede who’s stock has risen after the Super Cup triumph and he would love to bring the CAF Confederation Cup to this land before saying goodbye.
Strand believes his great success in this country is linked to what he terms as "constructive football", a new approach to the game and player development which allowed players to adapt mentally and become productive in all matches, no matter where the game takes place. And with this approach it must not be a surprise to anybody if Medeama from nowhere strive to make a great impact in its Confederation Cup campaign because Strand is sure to make this country proud with an continental silverware before he leaves our shores! Good luck!
By Nana Ampomah (Graphic.com)