June 24th -- Black Stars/ USA advance

Thanks to some last minute heroics from Landon Donavon, Josie Altadore and a caravan of red, white and blue charging toward the goal in the 92nd minute, the US is advancing to the round of 16. I got to witness the brillance at Epos Sport when I snuck over across the street. There I met up with Evans, a local kid that showed me how to get to my bus stop after my first day of work. He really wants to go to the United States to coach soccer (he walks with a limp so I assume that's why he has jumped right to coaching) but visas to the US are nearly impossible to get for young Ghanaians. He had a huge american flag draped around his back when I walked in and was pouring his heart in soul into urging our guys on. When we pulled off the game winning goal he exclaimed "oh I'm so excited, I think I almost cried!"

After the US match I came back and threw on my Ghana Jersey, some new Ghana shorts that my boss bought for me and my wrist and captain's band and left work early. Everyone always shouts "ay Stephen Apiah" at me when I wear my Black Stars Gear, I'm guessing because we both have shaved heads because my jersey doesn't have a name on the back. I picked up my house mates near my bus stop (minus Daan b/c it was "too hot") and we came back to Epos. We met up with Evans again and of course there were an insane amount of people in epos, but Evans saved us seats in the first row. The game was hard fought, and although the Black Stars lost 1-nil , we got a little help from Australia (who defeated Serbia) to make it into the round of 16. That's the good news. The most unfortunate world cup news for me, Drea and Evans is that because Ghana did not win their group (by losing to Germany) and the US won their group (by scoring more goals than England, even though they both have 1 win and 2 ties) the US and Ghana will now face off this Saturday at 2:30 pm eastern time. Drea and I are really torn up about it .

Firstly we both grew up supporting US soccer. As a soccer player in the US you are constantly told that your sport isn't tough enough, real or what have you. You're pushed around by the Football coach for use of the school's facilities, and that same coach will try to steal the best players on your team to be a kicker. Drea is also from Kearny, NJ which is soccer town, USA.
However we are now full supporters of the Black Stars. For all of the strife that Ghanians face everyday some how the one thing that will always put a smile on their faces is a proud performance by their men in red, green and yellow. We've both said that we won't watch the game and support who ever moves on to the round of 8. I bet Shara will make us watch it though. She thinks we're being selfish for even questioning who to root for during this game because Americans will soon forget this world cup squad if we in it all but Ghana would never forget the 2010 Black Stars should they even make it to the 1/4 final. Deep down I know she's right but I still can't bring myself to root against the USA.

So this weekend, I will not be not busting out the American flag shutter shades and I'm leaving my black stars jersey at home. Somebody let me know when it's over.