Ghana goalkeeper puts international career in jeopardy

On a normal day the headlines would have been dominated by issues of tactics and superiority between the Black Stars and the Indomitable Lions. But on this occasion, it was all about the 29-year-old goalkeeper and his unsavory rants on social media.

And as Grant tried to calm tensions down by calling on the Ghanaian public to “forgive” the goalkeeper and focus on “supporting the team”, one would reckon the Israeli was aware of the gravity of the blunder his goalkeeper had committed.

Disappointing! Disrespectful! Uncultured!

Those were but a few of the ‘mildest’ words used to describe Black Stars goalkeeper Razak Brimah after his thoughtless rants on social media. The 29-year-old might have had a point with regards to the strong criticisms that have come his way, but the manner in which he responded to those criticisms was nothing short of irresponsible.

In a video posted on his Facebook page, Brimah said Ghanaians “talk too much” and that his critics should “f**k go to hell”. The number of times that the Cordoba shot-stopper used the ‘F-word’ was uncountable and that has now left him in the bad books of the Ghanaian public.

Already the Black Stars are fighting to get back the affection of the home fans, after issues at the 2014 World Cup destroyed the love between the national team and the supporters. The fans are still reeling over the Black Stars players’ decision to put personal gains over national pride at the tournament in Brazil, and Brimah’s rants couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Just when the fans were gradually getting over the 2014 episode, Brimah seems to have opened up the wounds once again.

The goalkeeper may not just have put his international career in danger, but also it could pitch the national team against the fans. And although Brimah has since rendered an unqualified apology to the general public – and also been fined $2,500 by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) – a section of the public has already started calling for Brimah’s expulsion from the camp of the national team.

And knowing how intransigent some Ghanaian football fans can be, this matter is sure to go all the way to the wire – even after the Africa Cup of Nations. The way the fans handled Kevin-Prince Boateng’s standoff with the country typifies how merciless they can be when they feel a player has betrayed them.

Ghana is in the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations. For many countries that should be something worth celebrating; but for the over 26 million people of the West African nation it is nothing new. For a country so embroiled in football, nothing less than excellence is acceptable.

That is why even when the Black Stars have been to – at least – the semi-final of each of the last six Africa Cup of Nations, the locals are still not moved. And that is also why they would criticize Brimah if they feel he is not doing something right. They can’t be blamed. A trophy drought stretching all the way from 1982 cannot be overlooked by a ‘football nation’ like Ghana, and the fans are getting frustrated.

If the Black Stars again fail to win the coveted trophy in Gabon, criticisms will come from all angles. That is part of the game and every player or team goes through that at one point in time. What Brimah has just done is to put himself in the firing line. Now he will be scapegoated, scrutinized and criticized the more if he puts a foot wrong.

Anytime he dons the national jersey – that is if he will ever do – he will feel the pressure of over 26 million people on his shoulders. And he will feel insecure, with the thought of they waiting to devour him if makes a mistake.

After all, Brimah made one good save and he thought he was already a god, so when he errs they will also treat him like a fallen angel.

After a largely unconvincing showing in post for Ghana over the last three years, the least Brimah could have done was to take the flak on the chin and do his talking on the pitch with some improved performances. Just like Jordan Ayew has now became a toast of the fans after all the criticisms that came his way after his poor showing in Ghana's opening game against Uganda.

But now this singular act of irresponsibility may prove costly, and Brimah can only blame himself. It could be his final stay with the national team as well.