A few days into the just-ended African Cup of Nations in Ghana, Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Pereira told Reuters that only Ivory Coast was good enough, and could make a mark in coming World Cups – two or three more, he said, before an African team can actually claim it.
By implication, he also was telling the world that only Ivory Coast could bag Ghana 2008.
He did not have very kind words for the host country and a few other teams, all of whom he considered also-rans.
Egyptians shocked everyone by winning, and Ghanaians played their hearts out, sealing their hold on the bronze with a classic performance over a rudderless Ivory Coast.
Incidentally, each of the team he wrote off reached the quarters, much unlike his very own Bafana Bafana, who were colorless without bad boy Benny McCarthy.
Commentators on South Africa-based DSTV could not cease reminiscing about the boys’ good old days during the tournament.
Fact is, South Africa’s vociferous press is not going to let Pereira get away with writing off other teams, while characterizing Bafana’s shoddy performance in Ghana as a training exercise ahead of the next tournament in 2010 in Angola the FIFA World Cup in South Africa that same year.
South Africans ought to demonstrate their potential for the big stage – and they had the opportunity to do that in Ghana; Pereira should not lie that he will do that through friendlies, the Castle Lager Cup, COSAFA (for Southern African nations) and such other small fry stuff before 2010.
Pereira aside, Ghanaians must be commended for staging what has variously been described as the continent’s best soccer tournament ever.
There were questions about why the Ohene Djan stadium was refurbished at great cost instead of a newer one being constructed in a certain part of Ghana, more deserving in terms of potential to raise up a new generation of players.
There were questions too about how grassy Ohene Djan was on the day Ghanaians played the Guineans, with players stumbling, missing the ball and such other sideshows; prominent coaches complained about this.