Tuesday, July 6, 2010

If only I can find Balaam........




I have finally been able to overcome the inertia to take to the keyboard after that painful defeat handed our beloved Black Stars by Luis Suarez, the thief of Joburg. In my last blog a couple of weeks ago, I put out a sarcasm titled Bayie Kɔɔɔɔ III- The gods of the Game. I was basically questioning the role of superstition and religion in the game of football. The way and manner Ghana got kicked out of the tournament brought some fresh perspective to the subject through this one question- Did God abandon Ghana?


There are millions of Ghanaians who believe God is closer to Ghana than any other part of the earth. So strong is this belief that people actually dedicate valuable prayer time to make supplication for football victory, and they believe that the prayer of the rival team is discounted in the presence of the Ghanaian 'Shabalala' delivered in a fresh tongues of men and angels emanating from the bosom of the comforter. This strong force of prayer was deployed both on and off the pitch against every one of our opponents. Then comes Ghana Vs Uruguay on that fateful Friday evening. After taking the lead with Sulley Muntari's last kick of the ball in the first half, we thought we had done it again with the last kick of extra-time when Adiyiah's header headed goal wards, that was until Luis Suarez's hand popped out from the goal line with the ball in hand. The referee could have been excused if he had accepted it as a goal, but alas, he wasn't convinced it had crossed the line. Then comes the cruelty of football. After struggling to get the ball almost across the goal line but for an illegality, the ball is withdrawn 12 yards backward, and Uruguay has the luxury of a goalie to defend the resultant kick. I have followed discussions on the web with many arguing that if Asamoah Gyan had scored the resulting penalty kick, the story would have been different. This may be the case, but you cannot equate a penalty to a goal bound ball that is illegally detained by a man with kleptomaniac tendencies. Surely it is time to mend some of the rules of football, especially if the incident is viewed against the fact that Ghana did not benefit from the red card that was shown to Suarez in the last minute of extra time.


To add insults to injury Luis Suarez speaking before the world's media, ascribed his ignominious achievement to the Omnipotent. Listen to him. "The hand of God now belongs to me", "Mine is the real 'Hand Of God'. I made the save of the tournament."  His coach Mr. Tabarez gave a tacit endorsement to that view when he said "I'm emotional. We didn't play well, but we've gone through," . "It seems there's something forcing us on..." He wasn't finished, he continues:  "Those who believe in fate or destiny they might be able to explain it."  From an Ogyakromian perspective Luis Suarez is a cheat, 'dzulor', 'kubolo', 'dzimakpla' and  public enemy No. 1. But I'm sure many Uruguayans regard his action as a heroic act that delivered a nation, an action that  must have been inspired by God himself. So whiles Ghanaians weep bitterly about an opportunity stolen by the disingenuous act of a gifted footballer, Uruguayans can go to church and thank God for a great favor. This is reminiscent of the story of Jacob and Esau in the bible. Jacob stole Esau's birth right and ended up being the father of a blessed nation whiles his brother was left crying bitterly. In explaining pre-destination, the Apostle Paul expatiated on the situation of the twin brothers thus:

"10Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."[d]
13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." – Romans 9:10-12. (NIV). I'm sure many Christians have read this sentence many times without a drop of sympathy for Essau. Perhaps when we replace Essau with Ghana, and Jacob with Uruguay, the next time we quote the verse to justify anything, we will remember that Essau was a man and had feelings.



What did Ghana do wrong? We prayed steadfastly and played well and yet victory was stolen from us. If you will believe Luis Suarez, God stretched forth his hand and literarily appointed Uruguay into the semi final of the 2010 world cup over Ghana. It is as if he said "Uruguay I loved , Ghana I hated".  So that leads me to my big question, Did God abandon Ghana or this is evidence that God does not play football? 


For the answer why don't we draw inspiration once again from the bible. In the book of Numbers, we are told that as the Israelites journeyed from Egypt to the promise land, the Moabites got jittery and their King by name Balak called for a man named Balaam to curse the intruders. No matter what Balaam did, he did not find a curse tailored for the Israelites. Before he finally gave up, he declared in his second oracle in Numbers 23:23


 

'There is no sorcery against Jacob,
           no divination against Israel.
           It will now be said of Jacob
           and of Israel, 'See what God has done!'



If only I can find Balaam, I will ask him to search all the books of divination, if he cannot find a curse against Uruguay, then I will conclude that like Israel, Uruguay is a favored son of God. Then we can say, the  Lord has done this thing to Ghana. He has blessed Uruguay, and who he blesses, stays blessed. But if  we find just one curse, then I know it is not the Lord. If God hasn't done this, I will gather all the curses I can find  against Uruguay, and like the Ghanaian that I am, I will hurl all at Uruguay; that they will never qualify for the world cup for the next 70 years, Let Uruguay snatch defeat from victory seven times, What Uruguay has built in fifty years may the hand of Suarez pull down in a day, Kaita shall be the portion of Uruguay, Let the male Uruguay team lose to their female counterpart. As for Luis Suarez, may he carry seven portions of Asamoah Gyan's shame when he lost the penalty kick.

Ah , I'm beginning to feel better. The curses have assuaged my anger, I'm a Ghanaian indeed, an Ogyakromian.


 


 


6 comments:

  1. point of correction:


    As for Luis Suarez, may he carry SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN of the portion of Asamoah Gyan's shame when he lost the penalty kick. And his shame be upon his children and his children's children.

    And may that so called hand of God be turned to leprosy and wither and ...

    i pause

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ogyakrom,

    At least we look quite relief now ...........Kudos Netherlands

    The pains seem to drop off and will vanish on Saturday when the cheaters are beaten again by Spain

    As for the Devil in Suarez, May GOD deliver him and seek for forgiveness from the citizens of Ghana and Africa or else the witches of Africa will haunt for his life.

    My bet will go for Germany to win the Cup

    Cheers

    Rexford

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just two things to change so we can win next time.

    1. Well, next time you shd called TB before taking a penalty!!!! If he had advised we would be in the semis.

    2. Send Milo to TB and let them have a 'working' relationship.

    That will bring the winner!
    Kwasi

    ReplyDelete
  4. Surely it was the hand of the devil and Uruguay shall be kicked out by Team Oranje!

    OTUROKU

    The Race is not to the Swift,
    Nor the battle to the Strong,
    Nor bread to the Wise,
    Nor riches to men of understanding,
    Nor favour to men of skill,
    But time and chance happen to them all.

    -Oturoku

    ReplyDelete
  5. i guess, in a way we must thank Luis for his hand 'cos should we have own to the simis, then like Nana Boro said in his song, it would have been 'butubutu' thus: people dying, drinking bars get short of wo ba ada bitters as well as phamacy shops making good sale on condoms.. so hei in all things as the bible admonishes, let's give thanks to God for he knows best. Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. We shouldn't lose a game because of the antics of of a few idiots. Fools die anyway. If they don't die celebrating the game, they will do so celebrating a festival.

    ReplyDelete

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