Beware Of Coach Kwasi Appiah’s Unknown To Known Tactics!

In four mid-years ago, I felt increasingly placid as a Ghanaian when a television advert on US-based Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) described Ghana Black Stars as the most dangerous soccer team in Africa. In fact, my inner glee knew no bounds as I watched the advert with foreign friends. Ghana was in group G better described by sports pundits as a group of death with USA, Germany and Portugal during 2014 World Cup Finals.

One would have expected Coach James Kwasi Appiah to plan and win the game against USA at all costs. However, contrary became a case as the Black Stars lost painfully to USA in the Brazil 2014 World Cup Finals. Ghana lost to USA due to what I have conceptualized as James Kwasi Appiah’s unknown to known tactics.

Every professional teacher will agree with me that the best method of teaching is from known to unknown. Every good soccer coach will use new players either in friendly games or during the last group match when the team has already secured promotion to the knock-out stage. In the game against USA during the foregoing soccer festival, Kwesi Appiah benched most of the World Cup Experienced Players like, Michael Essien, Kelvin Prince Boateng (KPB), Harrison Afful, Derick Boateng and Samuel Inkoom to the amazement of many including FIFA commentators. One Commentator could not understand why players like Essien and KPB would come in as substitutes. Kwasi Appiah’s proneness to embarrass national team with weaker teams saw Burkina Faso also eliminating Ghana in 2013 African Nations Cup Semi Finals at Durban in the Republic of South Africa. Poor selections based on unknown to known tactics was partly responsible for such a humiliation. Kwasi Appiah’s proclivity to use debutants for crucial games has not benefited Ghana at all. We must curb it this time.

There he goes again in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers! The coach prefers unknown players to known players. At the time that Ghana must win all her matches, Kwesi Appiah has dropped key players like KwadwoAsamoah, AfriyieAcquah, Agyemang Badu and Mubarak Wakaso without recourse to the fact that his debutants lost to Mexico team B and USA in friendly games.How can this team defeat Egypt and Uganda? SulleyMuntari’s readiness to play again for his nation has fallen on deaf ears.

I suspect some individuals within Ghana Football Association are dictating to the coach regarding player selection process. Otherwise it does not make a modicum of sense to sacrifice experienced players like Agyemang Badu, AfriyieAcquah, Mubarak Wakaso, SulleyMuntari for debutants.Ghana needs somebody to just partner AsamoahGyan upfront. Our midfield with AfriyieAcquah, Wakaso, Agyemang Badu, Thomas Partey, is ok. Raphael Dwamena is needed to partner AsamoahGyan. I believe tactically disciplined Uganda, can surprise Egypt at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda on August 31, 2017. The Minister of Sports must intervene. Kwesi Appiah must not be allowed to underrate the Congolese! GFA officials must not interfere with player selections.Good Luck to Black Stars!

By Nana Yaw Osei, Minnesota, USA.