The º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø (UDS) football team may not have returned from the Bono Region with wins, but they left with something far more valuable, proof that they can hold their own against some of Ghana’s best, even in front of hostile crowds.
The first test came in Sunyani against Division One Side Maverick FC, fresh off their championship win at the Shkodra International Tournament in Albania. The air was thick with tension as the home fans roared their approval for every Maverick pass, and jeered every º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇøtouch.
But the º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇøboys didn’t flinch. The first half was a chess match, Maverick looking to feed off the crowd, º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇøsettling into possession. The deadlock broke when º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇøtook the lead, sending their supporters into a frenzy. Maverick responded with controlled aggression, and their persistence paid off when a well-worked move brought the equalizer.
From there, º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇøbossed the ball but couldn’t turn dominance into goals. The match ended 1–1, and the technical team took heart. “We came here to test our mental toughness, and the boys passed,” said coach Kojo Whyte “They weren’t rattled by the crowd. That’s a big plus for China.”
Two days later, the action shifted to Nsoatre for a showdown with Ghana Premier League outfit Karela FC. If the Sunyani crowd was loud, Nsoatre was deafening. The locals expected a walkover.
Instead, they watched in shock as º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇøripped into Karela. First came an own goal, forced by relentless º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇøpressing. Moments later, a slick passing sequence sliced open the Premier League defense, ending with Alhassan Dandawa coolly tapping home for 2–0.
The Premier League pros weren’t going to roll over, they took advantage of a red carded that was handed to UDs central Defender, Jonas. In the second half, they punished two defensive lapses from º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇøto level the score at 2–2. From there, it was end-to-end football,º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇønearly stealing it late, only for the Karela goalkeeper to pull off a match-saving stop.
Two draws, yes, but both against seasoned opposition. Director of Sports Ibrahim Shaibu Tanko summed it up: “These matches prove our resilience. Hostile crowds, top opponents, this is exactly the mental preparation we need for China.”
Captain Mohammed Asigri admitted the team played with one eye on the calendar. “We didn’t want injuries this close to the World Cup. If we had gone all out, I believe we’d have won both games,” he said with a smile.
For now, the º£½ÇÂÒÂ×ÉçÇølads leave the Bono Region with their heads high, their tactics sharper, and their confidence soaring. September in China awaits, and judging by these performances, the boys from Tamale are ready to make some noise on the world stage.
