Can we fly again

When my mobile phone begun to cough out my favorite jingles On the night before the fateful day, hardly could I fish out the caller. As I dragged myself forcibly out of sleep to respond to the call I was surprised to find out that the call was coming from Oswald, a good friend of mine who had contended fiercely that the Black satellites were going to loose in their encounter with the Selacao of Brazil in the FIFA under 20 world cup finals in Egypt when we met during the day. Oswald is an enthusiastic Chelsea fan and has being a friend since primary one when we both attended Abeka primary school at New Fadama.I love him for his joviality and diligence.

I always will remember him for a single statement he made which turned a whole class into a scene almost like that of a market day at Mallam Atta in Accra Newtown. In 1998 whiles in class two, our school was rocked by a storm which ripped off the roofing sheets. As efforts were underway to secure for us a temporal place I happened to visit my brother, Eugene in his school with Oswald. Upon arrival we met a teacher in Eugene's class who asked why we were not in school at that time of the day. Quickly Oswald managed to respond rather loudly which in my candid opinion deserves an arrest for messing up the Queen’s language. Hear him: ˜Please madam our singli(meaning roofing sheet) has fly’. The class which was once quiet suddenly begun to laugh out their heads off amidst cheers and jeers at Oswald who ignorant of the atrocity he has committed against the English language equally beamed with smiles. However the teacher although also had his share of hilarity was quick to put Oswald on the right path. And ever since that day Eugene’s friends any time they met us or him alone called him ‘our singli has fly’ in a very funny which always got him gnashing his teeth. It is surprising that he has grown with this habit and so easily fumes at the slightest provocation. He always gets mad when he hears any ill comment about the ‘blues’. But as a Liverpool fan he would most often tease me anytime we lost a game. Due to this attitude many were taken by surprise that our friendship had survived the test of time..

In fact I could not believe my eyes when I saw that he was the one calling considering the heated argument which occurred between the two of us in the day. ‘What at all could push him to call me and even at such an odd hour?’ I asked myself and paused to guess. I finally decided to pick the call although I was very tired and heavy-eyed. ‘Hellooo’ I spoke quiet leisurely. ‘You never walk alone (as he called me, being a Liverpool fan) I get som dream right thee nooo’. ‘Charlie you for fit wedge till morrow’ I responded in a sluggish way. ‘Oh you bore, make you no fuck up’. He said. Before I could say anything he had started narrating his dream. ‘The blues Charlie Chelsea no go loose again, I sorry I mean the black satellites. I conf sef.charlie you dey’. ‘Sure’ I responded but this time in a lively way as I itched to find out what exactly his dream was. He continued ‘you never walk alone morrow match go goo give Ghana. As I see for ma dream ego tough but we go win.Ma dream no dey fail oooh. Tofiakwah!’ ‘Really’ I said in utter dismay. ‘Charlie bed’ he said snappily as he cut the line.

I was dumbfounded by the way he spoke. Hmmm I sighed and went back to sleep. At dawn I was awakened by a strange sound. The sound of an unusual ‘myrrrrr’ of a sheep clashed with a cock’s usual ‘Kokrokooo’.It certainly meant that something special was really at stake. But how could I have read into such a strange occurrence considering my superstitious instinct which I have contracted from a society where every single event is considered to have an evil element present.

Knowing certainly that it was the day set for the encounter between the black satellites and the Brazilians I sat closely beside the radio set to hear the announcement on the squad that will initiate Ghana’s victory before setting off for campus. I could feel an aura of optimism engulf the whole GIJ campus upon arrival. Hope beyond hope, confidence beyond confidence- it was just simply amazing. Everyone I engaged that day was just high spirited. Not just because of ‘patriotic Blindness’ but the facts could not fail but speak for it. ‘It was a pure soccer formula which could not fail’ some had concluded. As I journeyed back home after school I snooped the street corners, in the buses, at the news stands, in the stalls and all I could sense was nothing but the sweet aroma of ‘optimism’ about triumph. At last the moment I was eagerly yearning for was due. I hurriedly walked to my usual soccer bay to get a feel of real soccer action and spectatorship as well as meet my ‘fine’ friend Oswald.

Eyes popped and rolled tenaciously at the television box in front of us, as the game of the chase and waggle for an inflated ball begun. The booing of rhythmic words like ‘goal’, ‘no’ ‘ho’ ‘go’ were very uncommon on the lips of my compatriots. The unlucky hour dawned in the course of the encounter when the Referee awarded a needless infringement in favor of the Brazilians which saw off the pitch Daniel Addo a key Ghanaian central defender in the first half. In the heat of such nervous strain I was surprised when I heard a shout through the crowd: ‘fair play for you’. There was an instantaneous uproar. ‘Wicked spectacle’ an aged man in his sixties who stood beside me quickly howled and bawled whiles staring in the direction of the one who had made such an unfriendly comment. The man’s coinage for spectator as ‘spectacle’ invited a peal of laughter. Moving closer I discovered to my surprise that the gentleman who had caused the brouhaha was my own Oswald who I had not chanced across since I got there. A slim woman in her early thirties defied the glee full atmosphere and chipped in Ga: ‘Ghana nyo ji le lo?’To wit is he a Ghanaian at all?’ This statement stirred up a of shoal of insults targeted directly at Oswald. At this moment I was simply sorry for my friend. Looking at him I could find my once cheerful friend out of the blue become as cool and chilly as iced water. I drew closer and paddled him on the shoulder as an expression of pity.

At the end of the first half it became obvious that there was an outbreak of dead noise in the whole country. People painfully lamented over the absence of the central defender.Infact the ‘Satellites mania’ had hit every part of the city. With a maimed side in the second half and through out the extra time most Ghanaians sat on tenter hooks. The shout of ‘gooal’ was only heard intermittently through out this section of the game any time there was an attempt by the Ghanaian players to score. Some people had given up when they saw the nature of the game at stake. To be frank it was a tough time-playing with 10 men against the 11 man Squad of soccer giants Brazil. I moved from where I was to get a sachet of water at a Kiosk nearby so as to quench my thirst. Wonders they say will never end. Upon reaching the ‘Iyigbe’ store as it was known, I uncovered a truth which I had always doubted any time Oswald had told me. Mr.Ahiadjo affectionately known as ‘full supporter’ who is the father of Mamma the owner of the kiosk was said to have being shedding tears any time a national team stood the risk of loosing a game. He appeared twitchy, hands crossed over his head which was scuffed with the national colors and had developed red eyes like that of a hungry lion. As I poured the cool water down my throat I could not help but notice tears run down his cheeks when a Brazilian player nearly tapped a ball into our net save by the goal keeper’s intervention. I nodded in surprise. What a sight it was! ‘This is the real meaning of passion’ I told myself as I quickly relocated to my usual position. I immediately heard a thunderous ‘Amen’ from one slim woman decently dressed in a traditional ‘kente’ cloth which of late is very hard to come by. By her dress code I was no mean surprised about her religious inclination. May heaven fall his grace on all such wonderful ladies who dress to glorify their maker. ‘What is that?’ Oswald’s old boy asked rather furiously. It was through this query that we got to know that Adom fm was undertaking a spiritual exercise to secure victory for the Satellites. ‘Apuuuuu God no dey football inside. Why do you fool yourselves like that’ one man snapped. To be frank this man also got a fair share of insults as my friend had suffered. This time around I heard Oswald Laughing so loudly on top of his voice. At last when the sound of the whistle wrapped off the one hundred and twenty (120) minutes soccer show, the bonfire of anxiety was partially quenched as most people expressed hope in penalty-shoot outs as against a soccer action in which the Brazilians, won the ball possession rating through out the game. As the selection of players took place on the pitch, a toss of faith was also in process as the religiosity of the Ghanaian was not left out. Besides me stood Abdul Rahim a staunch Muslim who led a group of Muslims to recite some versus from the Quran to claim Allah’s favor on the satellites at that crucial point. I was fascinated by the way they quickly pulled themselves together to assemble mats which they spread on the ground to sit on. Just some few meters away I also spotted some women praying seriously amidst speaking in tongues. And within some few minutes a lot of people including myself had already joined them to sing some hot praises as a sign that victory was already ours. I enjoyed every bit of this religious exercise. Some jama boys were also present as they got arrested in the throb of the drum and danced to some traditional songs-all to affirm an impending victory. In fact I was amazed that people could openly embrace diversity in pursuance of a common good. It was a beautiful sight which I believe the angels in heaven will certainly smile at. As the penalty- shoot outs started I saw my good friend draw closer to me as he wrapped his arms around my neck. Others had either done a similar thing or held hands tightly irrespective of gender. In fact this was the single moment which aroused the passion in me as I could feel goose pimples developed all over my body. The spectacular saves by the goal keeper attracted tremendous applause from the teeming crowd.

And before Agyeman Badu was about to kick the wining goal all the Jama boys had already gone bear chested with Mr.Okantey a Drinking spot operator promising what he described as ‘free booze’ for everyone if the kick manages to give the satellites the long awaited victory.

And when Agyeman Badu’s winning goal meant that we had lifted The trophy as pioneers in Africa On a 4 against 3 goals aggregate On penalties , oh my goodness the sight is too much for tongue and pen to describe- dance ,acrobatics, hugs and what have you. Oswald had simply vanished from the scene to follow the ‘Jama’ boys. It is a night I will hardly forget. On the street vehicles tooted their horns amidst music from loud speakers which succeeded in electrifying the whole atmosphere. As the Jama boys took to the streets they attracted a very large following most of them women who waved pieces of cloth in the sky to show full appreciation to God for the favor done us and not any man and I mean any man. The ‘free booze ‘Party was accompanied with my favorite ‘Egwee’ song as we Celebrated the victory of our gallant heroes in grand style. And far away I could spot Oswald ‘digging’ with old boy ‘wicked spectacle’.

Indeed 2009 is a year to remember. The sweet victory chalked by the satellites has been celebrated by Ghanaians to the fullest. Come 2010, the Black stars will keep the expectations of Ghanaians as they travel to Angola and South Africa for the continental and world cup soccer festivals respectively. But the enthusiastic soccer fans have being stricken with awe considering the preparation blackout less to talk of a ‘skimpy- limpy’ one, as they keep asking anxiously; ‘can we reach the top, can we fly again?’

By Enock Gyan, Creative writers and Orators club-GIJ