By conservative estimate, the national soccer team's goalkeeper, Edward Ansah must be 48 years. And unless Bukhard intended to enter the goalkeeper in the Guinness Book of Records, as the oldest player to feature in a competitive international game, Ansah had no business being on the field with players who could all be his sons.
Ansah was playing for Complex Stars, then a crack first division side in 1975, 28 clear years ago. If the player was 20 at the time, simple arithmetic puts his age last Sunday, the day he was fielded against Uganda at 48. The oldest international player known to the world of football was Sir Stanley Matthews, the British star who toured Ghana in 1957 and was crowned ‘soccerhene.’
No one, as far as I know has ever cheated age. One could try every means at his or her disposal to try and cheat age. But in the long run, it catches up with the person. In sports, where energy is needed most, it takes more than ordinary human effort to perform into the middle ages. Ansah was not only a flop. He was a source of embarrassment to every Ghanaian last Sunday. Aware of the fact that the crowd was firmly opposed to his presence in goal, he was a bundle of nerves throughout the 90 minutes.
The first half goal conceded by the Black Stars was a classic example of a goalkeeper not in tune with his defenders. When the corner was floated, none of the Ghanaian defenders rose to challenge Assani Bajaba who was allowed a free header past the helpless Ansah in post. There was every indication that Ansah did not see the ball until it flashed past him into the net. He was motionless. And though there is evidence that many great goalkeepers have been beaten in similar circumstances, Ansah’s demeanour as the ball nestled in the net indicated that his reflexes were gone.
In the good old days, he would have come out of his post to challenge for a save. Now, there is every reason to suggest that not even Ansah’s soul is willing for a similar experience.
He has paid his dues already. It is a shame that all his contributions to the growth of Ghana football and his selfless devotion to duty could only be remembered by the humiliation of last Sunday. One hopes, Edward is kept in camp to help with grooming our young goalkeepers. No Ghanaian soccer fan sides with Burkhard that Ansah is the nation’s leading light in goalkeeping at the moment. There are many young talents out there to keep the gate to the posts. Abukari Kankani, Louis Quainoo, Owoo etc, could hold fort while Sammy Adjei recovers from the injury that has sidelined him from both Accra Hearts of Oak and the Black Stars.
Last Sunday, it was not only Edward Ansah who let the side down. Most of the professional players on the field failed to sparkle.
