There is another side to festive seasons which I like; it’s the silent moments; those moments when no one is looking and you have some quiet to yourself, when our minds travel in reverse.
Our mind, being the unbiased driver that it is, takes us along ‘High Avenue’ and occasionally stops at ‘Low Junction’.
Just like me, I bet you have been a passenger one time or the other, haven’t you? I must confess however, that sometimes I am a reluctant passenger especially when the road is not so pleasant.
Well, before I begin to bore you with my woeful attempt at modern day allegory, here is what I am trying to say in my good old James Town (where I come from) English.
I am saying that, as the year comes to a close, we tend to recap events and moments; those moments that brought smiles to our faces, tears to our eyes and those that got under our skin.
Today, I would recap some of those meaningful moments on and off the football field in 2011.
The Tears
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal"
Indeed, the above couldn’t have captured more what the likes of Alhaji Ibrahim Sly Tetteh, Patricia Ofori and Edward Acquah, who passed on in the course of the year, brought to Ghana football in general.
Sly Tetteh as he was simply known was the President of Liberty Professionals. He Managed academies in Ghana and Togo and was also influential in honing the talents of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan, Derek Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah, and John Paintsil and many others.
He died aged 54 years.
We also cannot forget former Black Queens player Patricia Ofori who was killed in a car accident in Huntsville in the United States.
Patricia, 29, ex Mawuena Ladies player who featured in 2 World Cups, was first called to the national team in 2003. May her soul rest in perfect peace.
We also pay a big tribute to Edward Acquah, ex Black Stars player who passed away aged 76.
Acquah nicknamed 'Mr. Sputnik' helped Ghana to lift its first Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil in 1963 when he scored twice in the 3-0 victory against Sudan in the finals.
He was famous for possessing a lethal shot that put fear in goalkeepers.
These distinguished personalities may have passed on, some a bit too early, but we can be consoled that, indeed they are with the Lord.
The Jeers
While certain occurrences brought tears to our eyes, some plainly got under our skin and got us jeering.
Kevin Prince Boateng’s unexpected decision to quit playing for our beloved Black Stars was largely received with widespread public condemnation.
Then there was the 2011 CHAN (Africa Nations Championship for Home based Players) in Sudan, where Ghana flopped so badly.
The team lost all 3 games under the supervision of experienced coach Herbert Addo. It definitely has to rank as one of the worst performances by any Ghanaian National Team.
The National U-20 team, the Black Satellites promised so much but delivered little when it weakly surrendered African and World U-20 titles won in 2009 with a below par performance in South Africa at the African U-20 Championship.
The team failed to qualify from the group stage and not even the excuse that the absence of some influential players like Jordan Ayew and Afriyie Aquah who weren’t released by their European clubs could mask the failure that had Orlando Wellington in charge as coach.
The Cheers
They say that you save the best for last and indeed, the year had good moments aplenty.
Shall we all raise our glasses to Berekum Chelsea for daring and actually lifting the Glo Premier league despite their short stay in the top flight.
The emergence of Norway based goalie Adam Kwarasey was also refreshing. He has confidently taken over from Richard Kingson and going forward Ghana can be assured of safe hands.
Glasses still raised to the Black Meteors for winning gold at the All Africa Games. It wasn’t the best to compensate for the 2012 Olympic Games elimination earlier in the year but it did soothe the injury a wee bit.
Then there was Hearts of Oak, who celebrated 100 years of existence. That, even if you are not a ‘Phobian’, is a Ghanaian achievement worth celebrating.
While we are at it, let us not forget to congratulate Abedi Pele’s Nania FC for lifting the FA Cup against all odds. Indeed, the fact that the competition itself was played after a 10 year break was heartening.
And Nania exhibited a familiar trait of the FA Cup where ‘smaller’ clubs upset the big clubs. Nania didn’t only upset in a couple of matches they went all the way to beat Kotoko in the final.
Asamoah Gyan’s scintillating injury time equalizer against England in the friendly in March would remain etched in our memories for a long time.
The manner he wove through the English legs and the time the goal came was just a breath taker.
Thumbs up also to Harrison Afful for not only winning the 2011 CAF Champions League, but for scoring the winning goal against Wydad Casablanca in the final.
Finally the biggest cheer would go to Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew. The Marseille player sparkled in the year and it culminating in him being named BBC African Player of the Year and third best in the CAF version as well.
It is clear from the above that there were enough loud cheers to drown the tears and the jeers over the course of the football year and if you clasped your hands to offer thanks, kindly say a word for me to fulfil my outstanding wish for 2011.
It may not be football related but it is an issue after my very own heart. Therefore, if you happen to catch me somewhere in town, don’t blink twice, it would be me fulfilling that wish; me fervently doing the ‘Azonto’.
Now, that would definitely be a Merry Christmas and Happy look back for me. How about you? Football wise, would it be a happy look back?