A pretty cool flag and map

This is a pretty cool map and flag combination of Ghana that I found was being used as a Profile picture on Facebook. Ghana is highlighted on the map of the African Continent (just above the central black star on the Flag).

The Times, London

The Times, London

I submitted a letter to The Times regarding the cheating that denied the Ghanaian Football Team their rightful place in the 2010 World Cup Finals held in Africa. Writing a letter to a newspaper is something that I have not done for a very long time, and maybe by referencing the act, you can gauge my outrage that the cheating occurred and that the cheat was shown celebrating the success of his cheating on World Television. Unfortunately, my letter did not make the Editorial cut.

The only letter to appear in the July 5 2010 edition of The Times regarding Ghana being robbed; came from a Frank Edwards, from Croydon, Surrey

Pay the penalty
Sir, Ghana were robbed of victory in their quarter-final with Uruguay by cheating in the form of Suarez’s blatant handball on the goal line (report, the game, July 3). I suggest that when such a foul stops what would otherwise be a 100 per cent certain goal, the referee should be able to award an instant penalty goal, similar to the penalty try in rugby.

My unsuccessful submission was a tad longer. Well it had to be, didn’t it?

A Sad Day for Football
Sir, a lot has been said and written regarding the disallowed goal when the ball crossed the line during the England and Germany clash during the 2010 World Cup Finals in Africa. A bit less was said and written regarding the Argentinean player being in an offside position when Argentina scored against Mexico. Each decision to disallow one goal and to allow the other may have been made in error, but neither decision can be considered as a deliberate act that disadvantaged one of the teams. Players, Match Officials and even Supporters make mistakes. There is a vast difference between a mistake and a deliberate act. For that reason, the events that occurred at the end of the Quarter Final match between the Ghanaian ‘Black Stars’ and Uruguay represents a sad day for World Football. The Ghanaian players and everyone involved with the team can hold their heads up high. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the Uruguayan player who handled the ball in the dying seconds of the second period of Extra Time, and thereby stopped Ghana from scoring a certain goal. Worse still, this player was not ushered down into the tunnel and remained near the pitch. Onlookers witnessed his shameful behaviour of celebrating the missed penalty. Heartbreaking yes, but many people would rather be on the losing side than win under these circumstances. The hand ball and the images that were repeatedly broadcast throughout the World showing the player as he celebrated the success of his act, should have led to the game being awarded to Ghana. Instead, Ghana went on to lose the penalty shoot out. If winning means so much that you have to cheat, then Ghana is better off by not reaching the FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals. Ghana has already achieved far more in its years of Independence that winning a Football World Cup. The Ghanaian contribution to Statecraft and Security dwarfs that of lesser actors. The sheer effort of Ghanaians to help to secure World peace is an embarrassment for those countries that make little or no effort to Peacekeeping Operations. Ghana is already a World Champion of International Politics, and Ghanaian athletes will go on to achieve accolades for Ghana in the sporting arena. We must ‘Keep Hope Alive’ and I hope that Uruguay win the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Simply because a Uruguayan victory built on the defeat of Ghana, will be an embarrassment to Football. Uruguay may have the technique and the run of good fortune, but like others, they brought the wrong value set to Africa. It was a sad day for World Football and no one should lose sight of that fact.

FIFA Failed

By only upholding a single match ban for the Uruguayan Cheat, FIFA failed to restore the ideals of fair play to the 2010 World Cup Finals in Africa. Contrary to their grand claims; the Uruguayan Football Team is not amongst the best four football teams in the World.

Uruguay were beaten in normal play 2-1 by a Ghana team that finished the game stronger than their opponents. Well that would have been the score, if a cheat had not punched the ball away from a certain goal. If fair play is what FIFA believe in, then they should have asked Uruguay to go home. The cheat should have been banned from the tournament, either by joining his team on the flight home, or by being refused entry to the Stadium. This was no 'Hand of God', this was 'The Hand of a Cheat'.

This Uruguayan Football Team with the actions of the cheat and the subsequent celebration of the cheating; has probably done more damage to the good name of Uruguay than any athlete or politician preceding them. I am embarrassed that the good people of Uruguay have been shamed in this manner by their athletes.

I am glad that the Ghanaian Team Manager is proud of his players, as there are millions of people throughout the World who are also proud of them. People who cannot believe what happened and how that act was celebrated. I hope that Uruguay win the torunament as it will remind people that they won because of what they done and celebrated against Ghana. A Ghanaian Team that by right should have proceeded into the Semi Finals and taken their rightful place as one of the best four football teams in the World.

Like I mentioned in a previous Blog posting; if you have to cheat to win, then you are better off not winning.