They are safest pair of hands. Many a time, their roles are hugely underrated. But what many do not realize is, whiles the outfield player can make mistakes and get away with it, like a striker missing a guilt edge opportunity at the far end or a midfielder failing to track his man in midfield or even a defender mistiming his jump in the penalty area.
Felix Annan and Kwame Baah in a warm up session
The cumulated effect of all those errors, eventually leave one man at the mercy of it all, with an unenviable task of getting it right with his decision to save the situation. The man between the sticks must get his decision spot on or else a goal is conceded. So, while the outfield player may walk away with his poor decision making, the goalkeeper will be heavily criticized should he get his wrong. That’s how important their roles are and the reason they are the last line of defence.
It is for this reason that, fans alike in Kumasi have divided opinions now, with some calling for the head of head coach Maxwell Konadu for his decision not to play Felix since match day five after he returned to the team following his marriage to his longtime girlfriend earlier in the season, and has opted for second choice Kwame Baah instead.
For starters, Felix Annan need no introduction. A club captain and the leader on and off the pitch. His exploits right from his days in Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord Academy (now WAFA) to his current club is the main reason why he has had stints with the senior national team too.
Before the shot stopper left camp to tie the knot, his numbers were not bad at all, in four premier league outing, he conceded 3 goals (One each against Legon Cities, Berekum Chelsea and Medeama SC) making it an average of 0.75 goals conceded in a game. Perhaps the team was now beginning to settle into the new league season after a lengthy hiatus so one may argue it was for that reason they were leaking goals in almost every game.
They love him in Kumasi for the simple reason he gives his all anytime he wears the ‘Red’ jersey, to the point that he at a point in time questioned the behaviour of some of his colleagues citing his inability to comprehend why a player shouldn’t give his all no matter who is in the dugout.
“I have always said that as a player you always have to play for the badge, you don’t have to play because of a particular coach”
That begs the question if indeed there is or was any rift between manager and his 25-year-old skipper but Maxwell Konadu after the game against WAFA came out to quash such rumours, indicating there is no bad blood between the two and that its purely based on tactical and technical reasons.
So what has Kwame Baah been doing differently that has caused his manager to keep faith in him despite his young shoulders? Keeping the post for such a mighty club at age 21 years. The obvious thing to do when your first choice is not available is to fall on his deputy and since the opportunity was handed over to him, the former Inter Allies goalkeeper has grabbed it with both hands. His experience with Ghana’s U20 side as well as the 2017 WAFU side has helped the course a great deal too
Take away that game at the Accra Sports stadium in the super clash where he was quite uncomfortable with his judgments with aerial balls, not knowing when to punch the ball, or catch at once. Of course, the occasion was huge so you would expect it to get to him a little. Yes, he conceded in that game but truth is the young lad has never looked back since. Baah has conceded just two goals in the six games he has kept the post for the 24 time champions, and is yet to pick a ball at the back of his net in the past 3 games including the derby against Ashantigold on Sunday. Making it an average of 0.33goals conceded. Without a doubt, he is gradually growing his reputation as one of the best shot stoppers in the ongoing league season
“Baah is doing very well and we are happy with him, even though Felix is our first choice but Baah is doing well”.
Maxwell Konadu himself with all the experience he has amassed over the years working with the senior national team is not new to such situations. The situation calls for a manager who will not look at reputation and faces to take bold decisions. Some fans may question his decision not to start him since his return but week in week out Kwame Baah vindicates that decision.
Whether or not the timing of Felix’s decision to get married at a crucial stage in the season has affected him or he’s simply not pulling his weight enough at training, there was an opportunity, Maxwell offered it to Baah and the young goalkeeper responded with a nod of approval.
Kotoko fans should be excited because in the league currently, no club can boost of a solid number one in post and an even more experienced deputy on the bench. In the meantime though, Maxwell has had his decision spot on.
Source: allfootballgh.com
