International Footballers to Learn From Kubolor League
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Accra – Heeeyyy! It’s time for the Africa Cup. Last night, Ghana prevailed against Guinea in a 2-1 match, but not without drama. Claude Le Roy, the coach for Ghana’s team was livid over the state of the field.
“In more than 20 years in Africa, it’s the worst pitch I’ve ever seen.” He seethed. “We have a technical team which likes to play one-touch football and this pitch badly affected our game.”
He was referring to the length of the grass that covered the field, affecting the footwork of star footballers like ‘Dede’ Ayew.
While most in the world of sports sympathized with Mr Le Roy, there was a smaller, yet not-so-insignificant group who did not: The Kubolor Boys League.
Kobla Quarshie is captain of the Nima Ninjas, and a spokesman for the organization. We met up with him and a small band of footballers in a dusty pitch near Pig Farm, a slum in Accra.
“Basically, these guys are behaving like a bunch of totos,” he said in his best slangs. “I would encourage them to look back to the days when they would bring one socks, one socks and form a foot ball.” His team mates nodded their heads in agreement.
Kobla displayed much dexterity as he kneed a sock-ball to demonstrate his skill. Holding up the worn (and rather smelly) sphere, he explained that this ball in particular was only for use in big-big games, as socks were difficult to come by in the new economy. Archimedes Agyepong, a forward on the Ninja team brought out an even stranger item: a foot ball made from polythene bags.
“If me kwraaa, I can score a goal with a polythene bag ball, then what are these guys complaining about?” he spat. To prove his point, he launched the ball 20 feet away.
What worsened their chagrin at the Ghana team’s complaining is the fact that most kubolor boys play football in charley-wote, or flip flips, on rocky terrain and often in extreme heat. You are from Ghana, they said. How can you cry and say you are dizzy from the sun? We asked them about what Sunday’s nag-fest had done to their faith in international stars like Michael Essein and Asamoah Gyan.
“Honestly, it will be difficult to restore,” said one mid-fielder, who wanted to remain anonymous. “The only one I can say I have true faith in is Freddie Adu. Because after all, when he touched down in America, and they asked him that ‘How does you play foot ball so well?’ he tells them that ‘I used to also play in charley-wote with my friends.’”
Despite their disappointment in their former heroes, members of the league still plan to try to scale the wall of the Ohene Djan Stadium in hope of watching the next match.
