GAZA FC BEST XI OF MY TIME-(AUG 2005-JUNE 2008)

I reckon you’ve been anticipating this article since the announcement was made late last night uh? The wait is officially over. Today is the day we all get to know the identity of GAZA’s Best XI of my time. There’s an article I should have published before releasing this piece. It’s an article I’ve titled “A FRATERNITY CALLED GAZA”. In that particular article I talk about my experiences in GAZA and things that I miss (and don’t miss) about that famous hostel in (KNUST, Kentikrono). In my opinion it’s one of the best articles I haven’t written yet. (am I making sense?). GAZA to me was more than a hostel, it was a fraternity, a brotherhood, Gaza was more like a culture sort of a way of life. Those who have been in that hostel can appreciate the sentiments I trying to send across. I’m getting very emotional right now but you should understand me. It’s GAZA we are talking about here.

Anyways, this piece has been a long time coming. I’ve finally decided to unleash the list of Gaza’s Best XI of my time. You know let’s cut straight to the chase. I must state that it took me 14 days to do a thorough research on the statistics of all of Gaza’s players. In collaboration with other media partners like Infostrada, Cappello Index, Zonal Marking, The Guardian, Castrol Index and 90minutes I’ve been able to come up with the most comprehensive assessment of past players of the GAZA FOOTBALL CLUB.

DISCLAIMER: This might generate a lot of controversy and probably cause panic and fear in certain quarters but that’s understandable. This is the “GAZA BEST XI OF MY TIME”.

I have a feeling I might lose a few friends because of what they’ll call “browning” but again that is understandable. I call it occupational hazards. It comes with the job.

Let’s get on with it. Haha “Boys dema heart kot” see Shasha and Don. haha.

TACTICAL FORMATION

The 4-2-3-1 formation is what I call the formation for the new generation. In a formation such as the 4-2-3-1 we have four bands unlike the 3-5-2 or the (the yawa) 4-4-2 formation. What’s typical of the 4-2-3-1 formation is that 2 deep lying midfielders play in front of the back four just like we witnessed in team like Germany (Khedira and  Schweinsteiger), Spain (Alonso and Busquet), Holland (De Jong and Van Bommel). 2 deep lying midfielders (not necessarily Makelele-esque) give a better protection to the back four and forms a solid base from which to launch attacks.

I’m using the 4-2-3-1 formation.

MY GAZA FC BEST XI OF ALL TIME

GOALKEEPER: I would place Ray Parker between the sticks. Parker was by far one of the best goalkeepers Gaza ever had. Francis, Hakeem and even Rapartarr couldn’t come anywhere near him. The statistics are there to prove. Curiously Parker was then a striker before he opted to do the goalkeeping duties due to Hakeem’s abysmal performance in one of our numerous losses. His reflexes and agility put him ahead of Francis et al.   

RIGHT BACK: He’s not your typical marauding right back but he does a very decent job of controlling traffic on the right side of defence. He’s a veteran at what he does and 5 years of service to Gaza FC has earned him the right to be named Gaza’s favorite right back. He’s name is ALBERT ACQUAH but most people call him BUJU.

CENTER BACK (1): I found it very difficult selecting a player for this position. Admittedly I was spoilt for choice as far as this position is concerned. There is an abundance of quality center backs in the Gaza fraternity and I must say any of them would have been the ideal choice. Then again BERNARD ERBYN’s consistency is one quality that earned him a place in the rearguard of this prestigious all star team.

CENTER BACK (2): Now the question is who should  I choose to partner Bernard. Jeff Nettey thinks he has the answer and honestly I know he is right. He composure and calmness is something that cannot be overlooked. He reminds me of Franz Beckenbauer in his playing days. Jeff is a real leader on the pitch and he’s very diplomatic too. Don’t take his calmness to be his weakness because he’s a real fighter when the situation demands. Added to that he’s very good in the air and has a number of goals to his name. (Phone Guardado the statsman, cos he’s got all those details)

LEFTBACK: Gaza had quite a number of left backs. Names like Skillow, Ancestor, Andy, Oye and Otuo would quickly come to mind. However the Otuo is my man for this left back slot. The thing about NANA OTUO is that he’s right handed but left footed. Trust me such players are a rarity. He’s got a good right foot but that notwithstanding he possesses a left foot to die for. Otuo’s understanding of the game is impressive. My man for this job is a hard tackler but does it with sense. Again he’s very capable of bombing forward to support the attack. I think you get the picture right.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD (1): My pick for the first deep lying midfielder goes to eeerm can’t quite recall his real name but we used to call him ESSIEN. I think his nick name tells it all. Reads the game intelligently, breaks attacks and launches attack of his own. He’s got the ability to hit the ball from a distance and can be a headache for most midfielders on a good day. The problem I have with Essien is that somehow he finds it difficult to summon his inner man to play in big games. He needs that Fletcher mentality. If you need him to perform in a grand slam game then you would have to psyche him up very well. He’s a ‘world class’ midfielders once you ‘activate’ him adequately.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD (2): I tell you what; sometimes commitment can make up for a lot of shortcomings. We have players who play with so much passion that sometimes we tend to forget that they are not exactly ‘world class’ players. Players like O’shea, Fletcher, Gattuso, J.T and the likes are regarded as top players for more of their commitment rather than their technical abilities. This player right here wears his heart on his sleeve, he understands what it means to wear the colours of Gaza FC. But commitment is not his only quality. He is a good passer of the ball. He perfected the act of splitting opposition defences with his carefully weighted. I always wanted him in my team that should tell you a lot about this man. His name is Kweku Amankonah-Hene but the boys call him DON.

RIGHT MIDFIELD: I’ve been a witness of the development of many ‘home grown’ wingers at the Gaza FC incubator. Players like Stago, Nii Lante, Pharasee, TC, and co never really achieved the height that many pundits expected them to. I know it’s a controversial statement to make but it’s one that’s backed with facts and figures. Again I saw other nimble footed players of the older generation. Amaley, Kojo Nyarko, Atom and the rest but none of them proved themselves on the big stage (five aside football doesn’t tell the whole story of the quality of a player). This right side of midfield is a position that Papa Yaw Ohene-Adjei made his own. To some extent I can compare him to Diego Forlan. He sneaks in from the right side of midfield and scores tonnes of goals. The statistics show that he’s got the highest number of goals in the Gaza team. On the average he scores about 1 goal in 2 matches.  He’s technical gifted and can play as a supporting striker or the main striker. PY is highly versatile and that’s one of the numerous reasons why I chose him as my right midfielder.

ATTACKING MIDFIELD: I’m very particular about this position because for my 4-2-3-1 formation to click I need a very good orchestrator. I need someone who can distribute very well, someone who can dictate the pace of the game and most of all someone who can form a link between the 2 deep lying midfielders and the striker. I’m talking about a Xavi, a Zidane or a Riquelme. Two names come to mind, Leslie ‘Beau’ Doudu aka Obontey alias Guy Boo and Baffour Diawouh aka BeeGee. I’ve seen both of them play and I think they can both fit into this ‘Xavi role’ effortlessly. However I’m choosing Obontey over BeeGee because in my opinion Obontey tries to keep it simple. BeeGee  likes showboating and sometimes he complicates simple things. I’m not holding that against him but I reckon Obontey give me more stability in that role. My choirmaster job is delicately poised on the shoulders of the diminutive midfield general; GUY BOO.

LEFT MIDFIELD: Traditionally left footed players play on the left side of the pitch and right footers play on the right side. However we are beginning to witness a new trend (imo) in modern football where left footed play on the right side and vice versa. Take players like Robben (left on right), Gerrard (right on left), J.Cole (mostly right on left for club and country) and a few others. I’m going down that same road, I’m fielding a right footed player on the left side of midfield. My rightist for this left midfield role goes to CHARLES OFORI ANYINAM aka Da Bone. Honestly he’s genuinely talented and can create a look of problems for most defenders. I saw him come through the ranks at Gaza and I think he deserves this spot. With a little training I reckon Da Bone could have gone on to play professional football but well I guess it’s not too late.

STRIKER: This is were most people would be interested in. Funny enough most players in the Gaza team fancied themselves top strikers but honestly most of them were a bunch of stomach direction players. Hahaha. I haven’t mentioned any names ooo. Anyways shoutouts to my very good friend Charles ‘Shasha’ Kyeremanten. Oh no don’t it twisted he’s not the man for this position, far from that. ‘You people paa’. Haha. This position was bought, not with many though but with talent, skill, aerial ability and a good goal to match ratio. Nominees for this position included players like Shasha, Waji, Zanya, Papa Ako, Donald, Gunner, Fiifi (the TA), Abass, Olembe and Emoo. After subjecting these players to various “qualitative tests” only one player proved to be of the highest quality to fill this spot. His name is ZANYA BUGRI aka ‘Zanya One top’.  

THE TEAM

4-2-3-1

Parker

Buju   Bernard Jeff  Otuo

      Essien    Don

 PY       Obontey     Da Bone

              Zanya

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Oye (left back), Gborjor(Holding role), Siaw (holding role), Eric Gadagoe (right midfield), Papa Ako (striker),David Tutu (aka Apese, Left wing) Kojo Nyarko (striker).