Soccer News of Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Source: Final Whistle Newspaper

Anxiety grips Black Stars ahead of Egypt clash

It has emerged that Ghana could send a frightened team to Egypt to face the Pharaohs in the World Cup playoff second leg match slated for November 19, insiders have revealed.

Final Whistle’s checks at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have divulged that FIFA’s decision to allow Cairo to host the game has made fear paralyse most of the regular players who fear for the lives.

Though Coach Kwesi Appiah a few days ago publicly said he personally contacted some senior players in the team via phone, after FIFA ruled on the matter, he was not emphatic on the response he received from those he spoke with.

A non-executive member, but an influential figure at the FA in a private conversation with the paper over the weekend said “FIFA’s ruling could adversely affect the team” if certain things are not addressed properly.

Our sources said the ambush of the Togo national team by gunmen in Angola in 2010 is still fresh in the minds of the players, and are uncertain about making the trip.

“Officials of the GFA have to do a lot of talking…and if we are not able to persuade the players so well, then we should be prepared to travel with lots of the fringe players and not our regulars,” the source said, but could not come clear on those who were likely to miss the trip.

It would be recalled that the President of the GFA, Kwesi Nyantakyi last week caution various supporters Unions to kill any desire of travelling to Egypt to offer their unflinching support to team.

Mr Nyantakyi cited the chaotic situation in that country as the reasons for warning and said Ghana would hold FIFA responsible in the event that something untoward happens before, during or after the game.

However, the GFA boss comment attracted mixed reactions from a section of the public. Chief Executive Officer of Kumasi based King Fiasal, Alhaji Karim Grusah expressing his thoughts, could not agree with the FA president. In his view, Egyptians have no issue with Ghanaians; and naturally will not attack any Ghanaian fan, who travels to watch the game in Cairo.

“The Egyptian fans travelled to Ghana, no one harassed them. Fans can go and support the team and there will be no issues. Ghanaians have not done anything bad to Egyptians. We don’t have any issue with them,” he told Accra-based Oman FM.

Some of the supporter union, including NSU, GHANSU have rejected Mr Nyantakyi’s call and are bent on seeking sponsorship from corporate agencies to travel to Egypt to cheer the Black Stars on.

Aziz Haruna, President of the Nationwide Supporters Union (NSU) addressing reporters in Accra, said his outfit is very optimistic that nothing nasty would happen should they travel to Egypt.

“We are very sure that nothing bad would happen to us (supporters) if we are to travel to Egypt, because we are going there with free, cheerful mind; and we are not, in any way, part of the politics or protest currently going on in that country,” Aziz asserted.

As of press time yesterday, there were reports that Ghana’s Ambassador to Egypt, Alhaji Senari has backed Mr Nyantakyi’s stance that supporters should refrain from travelling to Egypt for the game.

He mentioned that Egypt is so volatile, therefore, providing adequate security to the travelling supporters as well as the team cannot be guaranteed.

The Ghana Football Association wrote to FIFA to consider switching the match venue from Cairo due to the continuous demonstrations and violence in the country.

But the football’s world governing body replied Cairo is safe to host the game after assessing the security situation in the country.