THE SPIRIT OF DEDE

You are adorable. I dare say the beauty's beauty denotes your true identity. The well laid out eye lashes that span your eyes are so charming. Oh! Yes, you are a mark of elegance. Please, my admirable Ga lady friends, this is not for you. Naa, I will get one for you, ok. Thank you for your understanding.

Both are children of Mr. Kuma. They are both in the same class, in the same school. They eat, study and play together. On the way to church, you are almost always bound to see both of them together. Indeed, they are most often together than they are alone. Obviously, they love each other so much. I guess this reminds you of the old days. Certainly, Mr. Kuma and his two children, Mensah and Dede, come to mind. “Hahahahaaaa, those days”, I guess will be your remark. I vividly remember the time when my classmates and I used to read some particular chapters of the English textbook very well and not others. These were times when we can mention some words in those favourite chapters of ours but failed to mention same words when they reappear in other chapters. How funny! I guess it was some kind of context-specific learning. Hahahaaaaaa!

Yeah, the talk is on. The predictions are being made and in less than a week, 21st January, 2012, the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, 2012 will kick start in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. All the about 24 million 'coaches' in Ghana (the whole populace!) have as expected started having their stake on the performance of currently 2nd best FIFA ranked Africa team, the Black Stars of Ghana. The question on the lips of many is how can we end the four decade of trophy drought by the Black Stars? Will it be at this tournament?

Certainly, every Ghanaian will wish for this drought to come to an end. The much-awaited final list of the 23 man squad as has been released by the head coach, Goran Stevanovic, and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is certainly the best we have at the moment. Yes, it is. Remember, they are the same crop of players that has made us the first runner-up team on the continent at the moment. With this, they are definitely a side to be watched at this year's African football fiesta and a highly tipped side to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament.

Buddy, it does not end there. There is more than that. Our skills and hard work will certainly be brought to the fore but once again, I dare say we are still far from lifting the trophy on 12th February, 2012.

Do you remember Ghana's quarter final match at the FIFA Youth (U-20) championship in Egypt 2009? Before this match, the captain of the side, Andre Dede Ayew, sustained an injury that many including some of the technical handlers, football analysts and the ever vociferous Ghanaian football supporters argued that he should be benched. But the inspirational 'capitano' said once he can stand on his feet and run, he will play his heart out for Ghana. In the said match, he did nothing but to live up to his words. He was exceptional as usual. A high sense of total dedication and commitment was shown. His sense of result-oriented attitude and the provision of the much needed motivation such as through his usual clapping and waving of hands to call on his team mates even in the most difficult of times to do their best on the field of play could not but released the trophy into his hand. As he lifted the trophy signifying the enviable feat he and his colleagues had attained, I remembered the above narrated incidence. I believe with conviction that this sense of patriotism and the desire to die for the country of your birth did the 'magic' – winning the much coveted trophy. As a great believer of the school of teamwork, I do not mean to say that he did the job alone but that he provided a great sense of leadership; one with true example that energised all his guys to get the job done. Let every member in the red, gold, green jersey with the ever black star of hope of Africa strive to die for the colours and we will certainly smile to the trophy when it is taken through the principal streets of Accra and maybe through my home village in February! This is my humble submission and I hope someone is listening.

May we all remember to say a prayer for the stars.
Folk, remember your thought today can make the world better tomorrow. Think about it.

May God bless the spirit of Dede.
May God bless the Black stars and Ghana football.
May God bless us all.
Lawer Egbenya

[email protected] / www.danielegbenya.blogspot.com