I danced over sleeping in the open of Zu-za supporters

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Agya Kwaku Ogboro

Many were those who leapt for joy when the Black Stars beat the Pharoah?s of Egypt 6-1 in the first leg World Cup qualifier in Kumasi. They were happy because they knew the score line had almost guaranteed the Black Stars? qualification at the 2014 Football Mundial in Brazil. There was therefore a volcanic eruption of happiness in this country and beyond when the Black Stars ensured qualification after losing 1-2 in Egypt.

However, the contagious nature of the euphoria did not infect Yours truly. I felt very sorry for this country as my ignorant compatriots sang and danced all night. I was sad because I had a hunch that the qualification would give some ?greedy bastards? another opportunity to ?create, loot and share? in the name of football. I was indeed very depressed; but not in my wildest dream did I envisage the government and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) heaping gargantuan shame on this great nation.

The theatrics started when the deputy minister and his boss quoted different budgets for the Black Stars. Soon after, we heard of appointment of ambassadors for the national team. Before one could say Kwame, the deputy minister was caught on tape shamelessly telling me and my compatriots that majority of those they were sponsoring to Brazil would be Zu-za party activists.

I must confess I danced when news of the Zu-za supporters sleeping in the open made headlines on the front pages of newspapers in the country. We also heard how some of them had to watch some of the matches on television, just like those of us back home. One could not but wonder if it was worth spending such huge sums to send supporters to Brazil, only to watch matches on television.

Just after the Black Stars? loss to the USA in the first match, there was a report on myjoyonline that there had been an agitation by some of the players for their appearance fees to be paid. My gosh, how the reporter was verbally lashed! The GFA swore heaven and earth that nothing of the sort had happened.

We were therefore shocked when we heard reports of players singing a very discordant song. ?We want cash, we want cash,? was said to be the chorus at the Black Stars? camp, with Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng being the lead singers. The players threatened to boycott training sessions due to delay in the payment of the appearance fees, which was caused by the failure to get a landing permit for the chartered flight conveying the money to Brazil in time.

Yes, you heard right! The incompetent Mahama government sent physical cash to Brazil to pay the players. Kwame Okro?s own Ghana became the laughing stock of the international press.? Black Stars? defender, John Boye, was caught on camera kissing his appearance fee, while some other officials counted theirs.

Perhaps the own goal by John Boye was because he was still counting his cash on the field during the match against Portugal. ?Coach Kwasi Appiah was also said to be involved in an altercation with Kevin-Prince Boateng after Appiah thought that a comment Boateng made to Sulley Muntari was aimed at him.

According to reports, Appiah swore at Boateng, who questioned why the head coach was shouting at him in front of everybody. Appiah later on broke down in tears when the Black Stars entourage was having dinner and he had to be escorted out of the dining area by Prof. Kwame Mintah.? There was a re-enactment of the fight between Bukom Banku and Ayittey Powers in faraway Brazil.

The Black Stars? midfield dynamo, Sulley Muntari, represented Bukom Banku, while FA management member, Moses Armah, represented Ayittey Powers. Reports say the interesting bout could surpass ?the rumble in the jungle? between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazer. Sulley and Kevin were subsequently sacked from the camp, but they did not leave without their 100,000 American green leaves.

Another page in the drama book was opened when Ghanaian international and AC Milan midfielder, Michael Essien, refused to leave the dressing room to join his colleagues to warm up ahead of the Ghana-Portugal Group G game, which ended 2-1 in favour of Portugal. The former Chelsea star was conspicuously missing when the Black Stars team took to the field to warm up ahead of the last Group G game against Portugal.

It was revealed that the midfield dynamo got furious and refused to step onto the field when his name did not appear in the team?s starting line-up. In summation, the third appearance of the Black Stars at the Football Mundial is the worst in the country?s history.

The country did not only perform abysmally in Brazil, but also advertised the messy faecal matter stashed in her behind. What a shame!? And what are we hearing from the President? He is proposing the formation of a committee ? another committee to drink tea and drain the little resources left.

For sure, one cannot help but wonder why this country has the misfortune of being saddled with such incompetent and corrupt leadership! Why us, oh Mawu?

See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!

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