Dear Black Stars

What would Baba Yara have done?
It has been a very long day for all of us. Ghanaians all over the
world in different time zones awakened to watch your game with
Australia. There are 32 teams in the World Cup but for us there is
only one team. The Black Stars of Africa.

All of Africa is counting on us just like they did over 50 years ago
when we led Africa's march to freedom which ended with the liberation
of Madiba Nelson Mandela and his country. This has given real meaning
to the key sentence in Nkrumah's speech at midnight on March 5, 1957.
“The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked with
the total liberation of the African continent."

Sometimes a game is more than sport. I write as I fly over the mighty
Atlantic with my 19 year old son Kweku Edewar and his best friend
Aaron, who by being a generation late, missed the inspiration that
drove the Black Stars of old.

It is a simple inspiration - Ohene Djan put it best “only the best is
good enough for Ghana and Africa." be inspired by our great history
and believe in yourselves. Germany will have only 11 men on the field
against you. Mere men just like you.
I have decided to come to Johannesburg with this young man to
experience what his broad heritage is about. This will be my first
visit to South Africa since 1975. We are as father and son going to
experience Azania, this beautiful gem of Africa during a historic
African event- the World Cup of Football. For us, it is all about you,
the Black Stars.

My 14 year old son Kofi and his mother, my wife, Ekua will be watching
from Accra and our daughter, Adwoa will be glued to her TV in the
Washington DC area. Like all Ghanaians everywhere, you are our oxygen.
Did I mention my 79 year old mother, a dyed in the wool “Phobian,” who
will not take phone calls if Hearts or the Black Stars are playing?
From Cape Town to Cairo and from Banjul to Mombasa the continent is
anticipating an absolutely ecstatic outcome from your next game.
That is all the inspiration you need to put your determination to win into action.

Each of you should write on a small card, what you are playing for and
share your personal inspirations with each other. You will all know
after this exercise, that victory will find it's home at your feet and
Ghana will lead her sons to victory.
I truly wonder what Baba Yara would do with the upcoming opportunity
to shine against Germany. In the words of the old hymn "be not afraid
for I am with you."

There are few essentials to the beautiful game. Talent, of which we
are naturally blessed. Then there is strategy, which is in the hands
of your able and proven coach and highly skilled technical team. The
skills you have displayed so far strike fear in all your opponents. We
have been plagued by injuries but " there is no easy walk to freedom."
As the leading African team, we are now the de facto host team. Our
Shining Black Stars, be inspired and victory will be ours.
The Sankofa Band is playing "Africa, I remember".

Dr T. P Manus Ulzen
June 19, 2010
En route to Jo' burg.

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