Black Stars’ uneasy journey to Brazil 2014

If you care to know why all soccer nations seriously stretch themselves for a chance to attend the FIFA World Cup again and again, I can tell you without the least equivocation that it is the greatest global soccer fiesta without any challenge whatsoever.

And if you ask a specific federation which has been to the fiesta before why the elites in world soccer fight for that honour, the answer will be most intriguing and amazing. Come to think of it, a country such as Brazil which has been to every single World Cup final since its inception in Uruguay in 1930 and you will undoubtedly understand it in several ways; from political, economic and social advancement.

Before Brazil won their first World Cup in Sweden in 1958, life in that Latin American mighty country was so rough and tough that it required the intervention of the Almighty for a highly positioned civil servant to own even a motorcycle.

When young Pele, at the age of 17, produced that magic which won Brazil that unique victory, he was rewarded with a three-legged car which was the envy of even top politicians and parliamentarians. And as Brazil went ahead to make it to the next Mundial in Chile in 1962, and again in 1970 in Mexico which saw the retirement of Pele from international football and World Cups, the follow-up was a magnificent transformation of the thickly populated country.

And after the subsequent victories took place in the United States in 1994 and Japan/South Korea in 2002, big investors couldn't help turning their attention to Brazil, creating employment opportunities for the impoverished people. Of course, the lessons of the World Cup have been positive for every nation, that has qualified to be among the elites. At least, the footballers of that land have had better deals when they secure foreign contracts.

At the moment, Brazilian players have every right to enjoy lucrative deals locally and abroad, a typical example being the price paid for Neymar recently on joining Barcelona. We should not forget that Kevin-Prince Boateng left the English Premier League for Italian side AC Milan for a better offer following his performance at the last World Cup in South Africa where he scored some fantastic goals, especially the one against the United States.

Who doesn't know that the world fiesta opens better avenues for players all over and investment opportunities for developing countries? May I say that, for now, every player has stumbled upon that consciousness and has been inclined to feel the need to be among the potential qualifiers such as the Black Stars, who meet Zambia in a crucial qualifier on Friday in their uneasy journey to Brazil.

There is no doubt that scouts will take advantage of the high profile match and rush to Kumasi to see how head coach Kwasi Appiah and his Zambian counterpart, Herve Renard, will outwit each other, and most importantly the high rate of performance to be displayed by the two teams.

Barring any unforeseen problems, the match would sell Africa, and it is my hope that it would be clean and incident-free despite its highly competitive nature, against the backdrop of allegations that some members of the Black Stars had earlier threatened to play it extra hard.

It is a revenge agenda, looking at the way the Zambians have in recent times done their own thing against the Black Stars. Really, the Zambians know how to play a mind game, and are leaving nothing to chance as they feature a team, which they know, might need something extra to conquer.

Indeed, they have resolved to reach Brazil dead or alive at this period that they count themselves among the best in Africa. And which country in Africa will not like to be in Brazil, noted for their modern soccer prowess?

May I add that soccer fans in Kumasi will be privileged to watch the greatest soccer match in their lives. Zambia will rely on their tough defence which has made scoring difficult for their opponents.They are crafty, and we should not take them for granted.

As to what will happen after Zambia, only God knows.

By Nana Ampomah/Graphic Sports/Ghana