Ask yourself. Could you ever imagine a black African dancing with the Apartheid South African flag at a world event in the 1980's?
John Pantsil...we love you.
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John Pantsil plays for Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel. He had promised his team mates that he would wave the Israeli flag if Ghana won a match at the world cup. Their 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic has swung the group wide open and a victory over the USA would almost guarantee them of a place in the next round. Go Africa.
Nice gesture, whatever he meant by it. How about if he'd whipped out and waved a Ghanaian flag and an Israeli flag, if he insisted on making his statement? Apart from what he said before the Cup (promising his team mates to celebrate with an Israeli flag), has Pantsil spoken to clarify his gesture?
Like you say, "Go Africa!"
The Ivory Coast is out, and Togo is out, but there's still Ghana, Angola and Tunisia.
Posted by: Rethabile | June 20, 2006 at 00:22
He just basically said that he promised his team mates he would do it and that he loves his fans in Israel. He said that they do so much for him and now he wants to do something for them.
What you said was correct - we would never see Zidane wave the Spanish flag but i think its very different because he must know how persecuted Israelis feel.
He must know that what he was doing was in effect making a political statement. He lives there - he knows what the world thinks of Israel.
I just wonder if he told his Ghana team mates before hand because some of them could potentially have been irritates but they seemed ok with it.
It would have been better if he also waved a Ghana flag :-> But I dont think that what he did disrespected Ghana. What do you think?
The Ivory Coast were just unlucky to be drawn in the toughest of all groups. They would have proceeded from most other groups.
Posted by: Steve | June 20, 2006 at 07:04
And Ghanaian Football Association apologised
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldFootballNews&storyID=2006-06-19T122113Z_01_L19795439_RTRIDST_0_SPORT-SOCCER-WORLD-GHANA-ISRAEL.XML
FIFA says they don't have an issue. (interesting considering the fuss they made about Gaza stadium)
http://www.news24.com/News24/Soccer/News/0,,2-2035-2036_1954243,00.html
May explain the reason. What is new with Eyptian press?
Anyway I'm looking forward Ghana v USA match and want Ghana to progress to knockout stages.
Posted by: Vaz Lube | June 20, 2006 at 09:19
G-D Bless John Pantsil . He is true righteous gentile.
Posted by: Gary | June 20, 2006 at 12:05
Shkayach John Pantsil we are so proud of you!
Posted by: Frances | June 21, 2006 at 14:28
Yes...Ghana have made it through. Go , Ghana , Go
Posted by: Gary | June 22, 2006 at 21:15
And they are to play against Brazil in last 16 round. Looking forward to this match!
Posted by: Vaz Lube | June 23, 2006 at 15:03
I wonder how South Africa will mange to get all their favoured 'rogues gallery-revolutionary club' friends into the 2010 World Cup: North Korea , Red China , Vietnam , Cambodia , Laos , Iran , Syria, Libya, Sudan , Zimbabwe , Mozambique , Angola , Venezuela , Cuba...The ANC is gonna want them all there regardless of their skill.
Posted by: Gary | June 25, 2006 at 17:55
Oh yes add Belarus , Tanzania , Equatorial Guniea , Ecuador , Bolivia.
Posted by: Gary | June 25, 2006 at 17:58