A decade ago (the Black Satellites won the African Youth Tourney in Accra in 1999) being the last time Ghana won any trophy in football on the international level, soccer-crazy Ghanaians breathed a sigh of relief as the Black Satellites (the national U-21 soccer team) ended our victory drought by winning their third African Youth Tournament in far away Kigali last month.
Having won the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup by beating Senegal in the final in January in Nigeria, the Satellites were expected to put up a good performance in Rwanda or betterstill win the trophy. With five time winners Nigeria and African soccer powerhouse in the tournament, it was going to be an easy feat as the Satellites conceded a goal in the first minute against the bulky Cameroonians in their opening match but when on to earn a draw.
With the draw against Cameroon as our only stalemate, the Satellites settled in the stride in their second match and compounded opponent after opponent till they lifted their third African Youth Tournament. Led by talented and inspirational captain, Andre “Dede” Ayew, son of former three-time African Footballer of the Year, Abedi Pele, the team showed overall brilliance. This fact was reiterated by the coach Sellas Tetteh after the final: “It is gratifying to me that we did not just win but we played beautiful football.”
The best player of the Rwanda 2009 Youth Tournament was no other than Ghanaian hitman Ransford Osei. The former Kessben FC striker now with Israeli club Maccabi Haifa has carved a niche for himself as the foremost goal poachers in Youth football today. Having finished as the second top goal scorer in the FIFA U-17 in Korea, it was therefore not a surprise as Osei won the Golden Shoe and the overall Best Player of the tournament in Rwanda with seven goals to his credit.
The Black Satellites having now won three out of the sixteen African Youth Championships held so far, Whats On! says kudos to the entire team and management and we know under the tutelage of experienced coach Sellas Tetteh, you will bring the ultimate World Youth Trophy that has eluded Ghana all these years in Egypt.
Having won the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup by beating Senegal in the final in January in Nigeria, the Satellites were expected to put up a good performance in Rwanda or betterstill win the trophy. With five time winners Nigeria and African soccer powerhouse in the tournament, it was going to be an easy feat as the Satellites conceded a goal in the first minute against the bulky Cameroonians in their opening match but when on to earn a draw.
With the draw against Cameroon as our only stalemate, the Satellites settled in the stride in their second match and compounded opponent after opponent till they lifted their third African Youth Tournament. Led by talented and inspirational captain, Andre “Dede” Ayew, son of former three-time African Footballer of the Year, Abedi Pele, the team showed overall brilliance. This fact was reiterated by the coach Sellas Tetteh after the final: “It is gratifying to me that we did not just win but we played beautiful football.”
The best player of the Rwanda 2009 Youth Tournament was no other than Ghanaian hitman Ransford Osei. The former Kessben FC striker now with Israeli club Maccabi Haifa has carved a niche for himself as the foremost goal poachers in Youth football today. Having finished as the second top goal scorer in the FIFA U-17 in Korea, it was therefore not a surprise as Osei won the Golden Shoe and the overall Best Player of the tournament in Rwanda with seven goals to his credit.
The Black Satellites having now won three out of the sixteen African Youth Championships held so far, Whats On! says kudos to the entire team and management and we know under the tutelage of experienced coach Sellas Tetteh, you will bring the ultimate World Youth Trophy that has eluded Ghana all these years in Egypt.
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