World Cup: Ghana Black Star vs United States Star Sprangled Banner.

There is more commonality between Ghana and the US

There is more commonality between Ghana and the US than meet the eye. These two countries gained independence from Britain, have a near similar democratic system of government with two similar main ideological political parties, center left and center right dominating. Ghana’s two main parties the National Democratic Congress, and the New Patriotic Party experience the same fortunes as the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States in the last eighteen years. During these periods, there were historical visits from three US presidents, Presidents, Clinton, Bush and Obama to Ghana. President Clinton saw the biggest crowd ever in his presidency when he visited Ghana in 1997.

Black Star flies for Africa, the Star Spangled Banner flutters to the western

When it comes to black African emancipation, the chants are loudest in these two countries that also symbolize liberation, freedom, independence, self determination and democracy to many a country. While the Ghana Black Star flies for Africa, the Star Spangled Banner flutters to the western world. Ghana’s path towards independence is linked to the United States where the man referred to as greatest son of Africa, Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and architect independence schooled and was influenced by the writings and philosophies of prominent African Americans, Marcus Garvey and W. E Dubois, a founder and first head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people, NAACP. Dubois, who became a Ghanaian citizen died in and was buried in Ghana.

Heard about the Allotey Formalism? It is a technique for determining properties of matter in space by scientists at NASA and elsewhere. Right now, you may be using a technological product developed by NASA more than a decade ago and in 15 to 20 years time, would be using a product that is currently being used by NASA. It is how important NASA is and there are Ghanaians working in NASA led by Dr. Ave Kludze rocket scientist extraodinaire who has pioneered complex engineering systems. Anytime you see an important NASA operation in space you can bet this prominent Ghanaian American is in thick

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It will come down to skills, technique , tactics and strategy; and support

But tomorrow, all that Ghanaian American relationship is put aside for 90 minutes when these countries do battle on the football pitch. In the end, it will come down to skills, technique, tactics and strategy; and support

Skill is equal to talent translated into production. Ghana has the advantage in that department. In football, people with raw talent and skills are generally of a certain origin; African, the Iberian and parts of the Italian peninsula. Maybe it’s the sheer raw animal magnetism people from these origins generally posses no? Would not hurt to mention a certain Edison Arantes do Nascimento, just say Pele of Brazil; and Diego Maradona of Argentina, who have roots from Africa and the Iberian peninsula respectively. The reference is on how many times people originating from these geographical areas have played to win the world cup. Brazil is self explanatory and not surprisingly have won more than any other country. Brazil is the second country after Nigeria with the largest black population. Then there is the Hispanics originating from the Iberian Peninsula helping populate South and Central America.

Want more proof, last year the Switzerland shocked favorites and host Nigeria in the junior world cup final to take the cup but saw names and people like Kofi Nimeley, Ricardo Rodriguez, Ben Khalifa and Joel Kiassumbua. The US like Australia has not taken advantage of its rich diversity and growing Hispanic population yet in football so Ghana with its raw talent wins in the skills department.

French gourmet, Italian sex and German organization

On to technique, strategy and tactics and it is said that the complete Europe takes the gentility of the English, French gourmet, Italian sex and German organization. Now it is a little easier to understand why Germany has the most appearances in the semi-finals of the Word Cup. You never could quite get know how they do it but watchout before you know it, the German players are passing the balls to themselves in your eighteen and all they need is small opening to unleash an accurate shot on target. When dribbling is kept to the minimum, there is discipline, team work and a strategy to neutralize the opponent while sticking to one’s formation, skills and talents of the opponent becomes naught. The US has the advantage technique, strategy and tactics; not much skill but they have used their long passes, speed and strength well and have remained disciplined and focused.

Anti-American leaders supporting Ghana for the wrong reasons, Hugo Chavez

Support and we are talking about world support, the number of people in the world sending positive thoughts and energy to both teams from wherever they are both in and outside the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. Taking it continent by continent and some countries beginning with Africa and off course Ghana takes it. Imagine about 90 percent of the more than a billion strong people in Africa wishing Ghana well and wishing football disaster for US.

Off course US takes North America and majority of Mexico. It gets trick in Latin America - South and Central America. The two countries would split the support in Central America where US has not been really popular there, with the largest country, Nicaraguan having a good relationship with Ghana.

South America is also tricky as Brazil may not have forgotten the defeat handed them by Ghana in the junior world cup final but because of the commonality in football, when the Ghanaians start showing skills; Brazilians will come round to it. US will take the Argentina and majority of Brazil but here is the first of many anti-American leaders supporting Ghana for the wrong reasons, Hugo Chavez and his Venezuela. Still overall, the US has a slight edge over Ghana in support because of location

Ghana takers the Caribbean support with Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica leading the support for Ghana. Go to Haiti and Jamaica and you would see people with all the distinct features of Ghanaians there. Chances are even the US Virgin Island full of descendants of slaves would be rooting for Ghana over their territorial rulers, mainland US. Another for Ghana.

Bet on mother Russian to have it for Ghanaians

US takes Europe almost hands down. Bet on mother Russian to have it for Ghanaians thanks largely to strongman Putin’s anti American patriotism policies; Russian President Medvedev’s cozy stroll with President Obama in the White House notwithstanding.

The trickiest of the continents is obviously Asia and the main players are China, India, the Muslim and Arab worlds, the Koreas and Japan. To apportion; US has advantage inIndian has advantage over Ghana especially because of outsourcing of jobs into that region so US takes India. Given the tight control of state on its citizens and the direction of the Chinese leaders, Ghana and US split the Chinese support. Ghana takes the Arab and Muslim world for the right and wrong reasons. The right reasons being, football is the main sport in these countries and the descendants of Africans in some of these Arab countries. The wrong reasons need no elaboration. These same reasons why Ghana takes North Korea because of bad boy Ill Jon Kim and US takes South Korea not necessarily for the wrong reasons. Ghana takes Japan too because of that oh so delightful treat called chocolate. Ask any Japanese about Ghana and chocolate comes before football.

On to Oceania and South East Asia; obviously US takes some points because of the Australia and New Zealand but count on the Aborigines and the descendants of Africans in these regions. Ghana takes Indonesia, no discussion so Ghana takes that geographical area overall.

who wants, needs this victory most would prevail

Do the math, Ghana has the advantage in numbers worldwide but the most effective number would be the 42 thousand strong in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium more than 90 percent of whom would be chanting Ghana and blowing their vuvuzelas.

In the end, who wants, needs this victory most, who would go after every ball, play with a champions attitude would prevail. US seek to avenge a loss 4 years ago at the hands of the Black Stars and to prove seriousness in the game. Ghana seeks to prove to the world that it is a football power house and to carry high the flame of Africa.

It is sure going to be a match of matches, blow the vuvuzelas, enjoy the game and let the best team win