Rent in Accra is officially more expensive than Manhattan. Dr. James Orleans Lindsay explains the shocking disparity between local salaries and housing costs. Is Ghana’s real estate market a ticking time bomb? Watch full interview on our YouTube channel - Business Outlook Africa
The vibe and camaraderie in this Black Stars team was a story of team spirit built over the course of many years.
At a point, 70% of the players in the Black stars [Paintsil, Sulley, John Mensah, Derek Boateng, Essien, Pappoe, Pimpong etc had played together from U-17 to the 2001 U-20 World Cup Championship. They had camped at Winneba and bonded over years.
They transitioned into Black Stars en bloc in 2002.
Gyan and co joined them in 2003. By 2010, they had played together for over 9 years.
Derek and Essien played together for Central Region Inter Schools Team in 1996. By 2010, they had known and played with each other for 14 years.
Kids with big dreams who grew stronger together through early struggles, heartbreaks and memories. That bond fuels every match they play.
Loyalty and trust build over decades. Knew their strengths and weaknesses. Knew their backgrounds from the dusty rooms of Winneba college to flying in private jets.
That solidarity was unshaken and it was telling on the field.
The 2010 World Cup group of Andre, Badu, Jonathan, Inkoom etc had mostly also played together for some 3 years at U-20.
The current crop are largely picked like hunting snails. Luckarsen, Yirenkyi, Sibo, Oppong Peprah, Derrick Kohn etc have never played together at any youth level.
No serious nation build a football team in that manner.
They have nothing in common, no history, relationship, no interest, no bond. You can’t manufacture cohesion in one week.
And it shows on the field.
We have become lazy in nurturing from the base and we see the results.
The toli, Jama and vibes was naturally boiled from an unbreakable team spirit.
Whose idea was it to allow real estates “professionals” to try and pitch apartments and townhouses sales to individuals inside Accra airport who have just come off of international flights????