This is a piece I did last year, October 2010.
"They are at it again. The armchair doom-mongers who glance at a decision, without seeing its coherent reasoning, and make a snap judgement about a person's choice. The locals are again hauling over coals on another character. Kevin-Prince Boateng is the latest to bear the harsh and often punitive brunt of the Ghanaian populace.
Having being injured playing for Milan, he sent an email to the Ghana Football Association to seek a no-appearance for Ghana’s date with Sudan at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. Then the doubters rose from toe to top their flags waving that the young chap was taking us for a cheap ride. Some have been quick in jumping to the gun: 'when he wanted to show up at the World Cup after Germany rejected him, he quickly accepted an invitation to play for us. Now that his market value has skyrocketed for excellent showing at the mundial, he’s now trying to play “hanky-panky” games with us."
These fans are a fervent lot and seem more comfortable when consumed with a player’s pledge to the country, rather than euphoria sometimes. All they want is for a player to lace his boots with pride and play with sheer passion even through the pain barrier. Put your egos and medical concerns aside and play to their glare. You’ll hit an instant hero status if such is done. One wrong turn with your commitment though and you keep your eyes peeled for some fireworks. Or get ready to be shoved into the soccer-version of the Chile mines.
From casual football watchers to the most passionate of soccer devotees, Ghanaians have descended on Kevin’s actions and questioned his commitment to the national cause. They did same with Michael Essien when he decided to be relieved off his duties for the Black Stars albeit temporarily due to injuries yet met the ridicule and scorn of the soccer-loving fan. They simply take not even precious berries compared to your commitment level. For now, you might want to suggest that Kevin understands the drive that comes with playing for Ghana. The locals take nothing to showing pride in the national colours and being committed.
So here’s to those who questioned his commitment. And slapped him with the avaricious tag. 'There was no misunderstanding (with the Ghana FA). After the league game I felt a bit of pain on my hamstring” Boateng said. “So I decided not to go (for the game against Sudan) because I was not 100 percent fit. “For me there was no misunderstanding. There was an email to the Ghana Football Association that I can’t travel and I can’t play. “So for me it was clear and I stayed in Milan and I trained.”
Emphatic enough answer for me. We don’t need another one of our star players stressing their muscles in light of longevity for Ghana, especially when they are not fully fit. It was reverent enough of him to inform the GFA of his problem avoiding the shameful egregious snobbish stunt. I am sure if fully fit he’d have played against Sudan in Kumasi. For now, let’s spare him all the blatant, inane and inconsiderate insults. Really, we don’t want another Essien vacation; we can’t just meet the expense of it. "
And tis piece above was preceded by:
"The World Cup- arguably the greatest theatre of the game- has a colonnade of debates surrounding its neck like an albatross when its date draws close. The discussions and debates, which already are raging on with a few months to go, have players switching nationality as one of its loudest cries. The issue has hit elevated heights on the pages of newspapers, been on the mouthing radars of sports connoisseurs and to a larger picture caused a chit-chat on the literal liaison between the Ghana Football Association and FIFA. The question of chauvinism or opportunism, on a player’s intent to switch countries, has come under the limelight yet again this week for World Cup reasons.
Here, Africa Sports’ Isaac Koufie-Amartey looks at the infamous cases of Portsmouth’s Kevin-Boateng and Adam Kwarasey, the former Norwegian Under-21 goalie who, for want of switch of nationalities, have become talked-about items.
On the surface, only 32 nations would be represented at the FIFA World Cup mundial in South Africa, bringing with them their swarming fans, their raucous chants, their beautiful colours and their indigenous rhythms to liven up the streets of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto and too many a city. But in a world where borders have less and a lesser amount of significance and people move around more without stinting than ever, this is by no means the whole story. A nippy scratch of the surface reveals a veritable mélange of nationalities and backgrounds at the finals. Ghana being one large inclusion!
Just another admirable addition to the Black Stars over-flowing abundance in midfield won’t hurt if that lad had shown promise and the muscles, vigor and affirmative ego to play at the top level. Even if it means backing on the heels of Sepp Blatter for months to sign the dotted lines of paperwork geared to see a certain Boateng pull on a Black Star shirt! Kevin-Prince Boateng has pulled up some stirring, heartening performances for a Portsmouth side that looks certain to have a bite of a Championship cherry next season. He’s proved his “ghetto” upbringing looks the exact opposite of his unsurpassed soccer skill and a passion and zeal to crack up standing ovation-like outings. Aside this show of promise and looking a fine count for team selection, his involvement in the national team set-up has taken a plunge. He would bend his knees, a lot would suggest, having his files signed, stamped and given clearance to feature for his new “countryside”. But that doesn’t sound cheap a talk! And that hasn’t left him of criticisms as well.
The playmaker almost certainly innate his talent: talk of a Ghanaian touch, his uncle was a Ghanaian international, and his grandfather is a cousin of legendary Germany star Helmut Rahn, scorer of the winning goal in the 1954 FIFA World Cup Final. Talk of talent, Boateng boasts exceptional ability, refined technique and a range of ball-juggling tricks. His skill and pace are complemented by advanced tactical awareness and a powerful physique. But all of these show of class doesn’t become a Ghanaian reality if a few situations stalls and stay the same.
Keeping clean sheets have somewhat looked the bane and blight of the Black Stars. A goalkeeper, to put a challenge on the justified first team place for Wigan’s Richard Kingston, would be welcomed in purely footballing terms. Starring for Stromgodset in the Norwegian top flight league, Adam Kwarasey, who’s played for the Under-21 side of his adopted country, has also seen stiff situations in his quest to play for Ghana. At 6ft 4in, Kwarasey is literally head and shoulders above Black Stars regulars Richard Kingston and Philemon McCarthy, who average 5ft 8in. He could well prove a proficient assistant for Kingston and just maybe pick up that solo slot to man the posts.
One issue that’s been stuck on the fronts of these two players is whether they coming with warm, earnest interests or with egotistic reasons. Kevin-Prince has been spat on with accusations that he is only an opportunist as he spurned the chance of playing for Ghana at the FIFA World Cup in Ghana waiting on a call-up by the German national team. Kwarasey also has had his share of the spoils by hands accusing him of not opening up to the Black Stars cause a long while ago and only doing so at this time for selfish reason.
Is their new theme-song to play for Ghana because of higher chances of playing at the championship in South Africa or a desire to share in the passion of a certain 23-million inhabitants? It’s an issue that never seems to be far away, and never fails to polarize public opinion. Your guess is worth an ear!"
Now you judge, if Kevin Prince Boateng has taken us for a ride!!
