One of the many who still remembers the kicks and flicks at the only World Cup staged in Africa is celebrated English football commentator, Peter Drury.
In a yet to be released interview with Nana Aba Anamoah, the ace Sports Broadcaster revealed how the name Ghana reminds him of events at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
According to the commentator although the Ayews are the first to pop in his mind when he hears Ghana, the topmost one is how Luis Suarez denied Ghana a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Ghana was on the verge of becoming Africa’s first country to make it to the semis at the World Cup when Luiz Suarez palmed Domnic Adiyah’s goal bound header from the line in the dying minutes of the game. The striker was sent off and Asamoah Gyan missed the resultant penalty kick which led to Ghana’s event knockout in the shootouts after a stalemate at the end of regulation time.
As a commentator who has blazed the trai when it comes to football, Drury believes the narrative about Africa at the World Cup would have changed if the four time African Champions had made it to the 2010 World Cup semifinal stage.
“When I think of Ghana, I think of the Ayews, of course I think of Luiz Suarez,” Drury said basking into laughter with Nana Aba.
“The broken hearts. I think of South Africa because you were the African nation that impacted most at that World Cup which was a great World Cup. But for that mistake you would have gone that futher,” Drury said.
The ace broadcaster nodded to the affirmative when Nana Aba expoused how Ghana still has not forgiven the Uruguain striker, Luiz Suarez.
“Yeah I’m sure you haven’t because that World Cup was a never to be forgotten World Cup and Ghana’s part in that was huge because you had that part in the African narrative. So honestly, when you ask me what I think of Ghana it is that.”
Peter Drury who has a great following on the African continent said “I’d love to visit Ghana.”
