EGYPT ’09: Ghana’s ‘Kids’ Never Really Grew Up

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Ah, kids — they grow up too quickly, don’t they?

But sometimes you just wish they wouldn’t; that they stay as lovable as they are, never becoming all grown and bruised by the harsh realities of life.

As far as ‘kids’ go, none have been as sweet as the bunch of Ghanaian U-20s who won Africa’s first Fifa World Cup at that level ten years to this day, leaving us with a scrapbook of everlasting memories: of Sellas Tetteh’s one-shirt wonder, of Bright Addae’s ascending praise after Dominic Adiyiah converted his penalty to spare the former’s blushes, of goalkeeper Daniel Agyei’s big saves, of Adiyiah’s rich goalscoring form, of Andre Ayew’s drive, of Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu’s winner, and of a dark Cairo sky illuminated by Ghana’s Satellites.

Those young men buzzed with class all through, but also with desire and fortitude, displaying these traits against each opponent they faced at the tournament: Uzbekistan, England, Uruguay, South Africa, South Korea, Hungary, and Brazil. That they played teams from four continents en route to glory – without defeat — made Ghana’s youth world-beaters in the truest sense of the word.

Okay, let’s admit it: in the end, we were left wondering just how — after playing over 80 minutes with 10 men and on the ropes for much of that spell, aside missing two penalties in the ensuing shootout — Ghana won it against the bright Brazilians. Still, losing — not that it looked any better on poor Brazil — would have been hard on Ghana, and it’s perhaps only fair that the Black Satellites secured the title to complete the beautiful mosaic they had put together all-tournament.

And then – damn, I say this with a grimace — they grew up, so fast and not so good. To be honest, a fair number from that batch of graduates served Ghana well at the following year’s Africa Cup of Nations and the senior Fifa World Cup of 2010, with the likes of Andre Ayew staying relevant till now. Agyemang-Badu stuck around for a good while, too, as has Jonathan Mensah. That is probably where it ends, though, even for some of those who made the honor roll on the big day.

Adiyiah, top-scorer and overall best player at the championship, made a giant leap to Italian club AC Milan soon afterwards but followed it with a plunge so great that he currently plays in — wait for it – Thailand’s second tier. Strike partner Ransford Osei, arguably better all-round than Adiyiah, failed to overcome a succession of injuries that blocked his own path to greatness.

Mohammed Rabiu, for a while, looked like the sort of midfield gem who would ease the challenge of replacing a fading Michael Essien, but he got lost somewhere along the line. Daniel Opare might have had a real chance at Real Madrid, but then life happened. Then there is Samuel Inkoom: gone, too. For these and others like Agyei (who never really made the Black Stars’ No.1 spot his, regrettably), there is a truth learnt the hard way: growing up is overrated.

Even Tetteh — the head coach and mastermind — himself has seen his career underwhelm somewhat. Any lingering hopes of ever being handed the reins of the Black Stars appear extinguished, although an improved resumé — bettered by another medal, this time bronze, at the competition’s 2013 edition — has helped him grab jobs with the Rwandan and Sierra Leonean national sides.

All of this hurts, yes, but perhaps there is some consolation in knowing that not many from that ‘Class of 2009’ compete at elite level a decade later for club and/or country: Giacomo Bonaventura (Italy), Odion Ighalo (Nigeria), Cesar Azpilicueta, Ander Herrera, Jordi Alba (all of Spain), Kieran Trippier (England), Peter Gulacsi (Hungary), and Douglas Costa (Brazil) are names that readily spring to mind but, behind them, the queue of distinguished alumni doesn’t get much longer. Alas, the sun set far too fast!

Many in Ghana’s winning squad have indeed sunk deep into football’s ever-widening pool of lost boys, but why brood over what could have been when what was remains fresh in our minds?

These ‘kids’, in a weirdly fantastic sense, never really grew up — and that might not be a bad thing after all. Cheers!

NY Frimpong — Daily Mail GH