A good, first step to strike gold, AshGold
Like the 1-0 scoreline that helped salvage Ghana's campaign at the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea, the 1-0 win by Ashgold in the CAF Champions League last weekend, looks like a good, first step to strike gold.
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Algeria is a powerhouse in Africa, ranked first among African nations, in the latest FIFA rankings, placing Ghana 41st, five places behind the north African country.
So, any margin of victory by any Ghanaian side over their opponents from the north should count as double, boosting inspiration and providing impetus for confidence and conviction.
Indeed, the Ghanaian champion's 1-0 defeat of M.O. Bejaia last Sunday at the Obuasi Len Clay stadium, does not inspire much confidence. Yet, in the absence of legitimate competition by way of preparation, thanks to a stillborn league beset problems occasioned by inept national football top brass since last September, Ashgold's win is a shot in the arm.
Also, it strikes a blow for Ghana football, her league suffering from a labyrinth of inept organisers, limited capital for the clubs, poor welfare of players, suspected bribery of match officials and suspected matches of convenience.
Typically, Ghanaian clubs have come up short against Algerian sides, the latest nightmare being Kumasi Asante Kotoko's puzzling loss to El Ouma last season, after managing a goalless draw away in the first leg.
Other Ghanaian casualties include Accra Hearts of Oak and Ashgold, themselves, incidentally having fallen to common opponents, JS Kabylie of Algeria, former African club champions.
Besides, given that a Ghana squad comprising players drawn from the league failed to qualify to the recently-concluded Championship of African Nations (CHAN), it reflected a poor league in Ghana.
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For the records, DR Congo, ranked 57th by FIFA, belted Mali, ranked 68th by the same body, into submission in a competition Ghana had previously placed second twice before last year's 'shot-in-the foot' failure to qualify.
Also, the national U-23 men's football team, Black Meteors, failed to qualify for this year's Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.
Again, somehow, the inept FA failed to qualify the Black Starlets for the FIFA under-17 championship, but got the team banned last year for age-cheating, thus dragging the name of Ghana in the mud.
Given the evidence so far, it is clear Ghana’s Premier League is in the throes of woes, a development incompatible with success, detrimental to development and inimical to the progress of club football, in Ghana.
No wonder Ashgold's communication director, Kofi Owusu, claims the team could have won by a wider margin, had the league not been stillborn. Yet, the team's CEO, Kudjoe Fianoo, is certain his team would progress to the next phase of the competition.
Going purely on the strength of the Ashgold conviction that, thanks to better preparations — including pitting strength against FA Cup holders and fellow continental campaigners, Medeama, in a Premier League encounter this weekend before their return leg clash with Bejaia — they would do well to progress to the next phase.
Another reason to believe: the Black Stars delivered, thanks to a lone strike by captain Asamoah Gyan, then recuperating from an ailment, to virtually guarantee Ghana a narrow escape from the group stage of the AFCON 2015 after a bad start, a 1-2 loss to Senegal.
Largely thanks to that strike, the Black Stars proceeded eventually to the grande finale, where their aspirations were trampled upon, in neighbourly misconduct, by the Elephants of "next door" Cote d'Ivoire.
So, Ashgold can take inspiration from that history, escape the "lion's den" of MO Bejaia and proceed to the next phase and beyond, hopefully, all the way to strike gold for themselves, and make all Ghanaians proud of their feat.
It may be a long shot, but it is do-able. Let's go, Ashgold.