Ex-Black Stars defender Joseph Addo has expressed
satisfaction on the performance of the Black Stars players at the World Cup
despite Ghana’s early exit at the competition.
The Black Stars for the first time in the World Cup failed
to advance past the group stages after finding itself in a rather tough group
which consists of 3-time World champion Germany, USA and Portugal.
The Stars after three games managed to accumulate just a
point to finish bottom of Group G. Many Ghanaian football fans and pundits have
therefore attributed Ghana’s poor performance at the World Cup to the chaotic
incidence that happened in the team’s camp throughout their group campaign.
Ghana lost its opening group game against the USA by 2
goals to 1, went on to secure a 2-2 draw with group favorite Germany before
falling 1-2 to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Though several players in the team have been charged for
not giving their best at the tournament, Joe Addo, 42, who captained the Black Stars in the 90’s, is contented
with the performance of the Black Stars players at the World Cup.
“The preparation started from the friendly game against
Holland. I had hopes that the team would go very far in the World Cup after
seeing the kind of football they played against the Dutch in that friendly”, he
told Accra-based Happy FM.
“The players really played very well in that particular
game. Unfortunately we lost one of our key defenders Jerry Akaminko in the last
minute through injury. It was very unfortunate. Even with that I saw that the
guys were willing to die for Ghana. I cannot really pinpoint a player who I will
say didn’t do well”.
“Even in their first game against the US, although they
lost, you will agree with me that the players played very well. And in our
second game against Germany, which many have described as the best game of the
tournament, our players really gave out their best. I think we must really
commend them for that particular game. They worked for each other. They were
selfless” .
“Our captain Asamoah Gyan’s performance at the World Cup
was splendid. There is no way somebody will tell me Asamoah Gyan is not one of
the best strikers in the World. Harrison Afful was superb. Sulley Muntari and
Kwadwo Asamoah were marvelous. Andre Ayew scored two crucial goals. So for me I
think our boys really played very well”.
Ghana was hoping to better her quarter finals berth chalked
four years ago in South Africa. The team will now have to prepare ahead of the
2015 African Cup of nations in Morocco.
By
Frank Darkwah
Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi
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