7 March 2011
On two fronts, Sulley Muntari has been given the chance to revive his career and for such a talented player it was shocking to see such a promising career, careering off the track.
Over the past two months the Ghana international has been sorting out his future on the national team level and at club level as on both fronts his career was heading for the dead end.
His international career had derailed after a bust-up with previous coach Milovan Rajevac at the World Cup in South Africa and all had gone horribly wrong at Italian club Inter Milan after a heated argument with coach Leonardo. It did not start here. At the Athens Olympic Games he was booted out of the Ghana team for being disruptive.
His recent desire to return to the national team was evident in January when he jumped at the opportunity of meeting new Black Stars coach Goran Stevanovic, who wants Muntari to return to the fold but was concerned about the disruption the midfielder could cause to the team.
While the meeting was being arranged with Stevanovic, Muntari slapped in a transfer request at Inter after he was banished from the first team for hurling abuse at assistant manager Beppe Baresi. This resulted in his move to Sunderland.
The midfielder was visibly furious when he walked very slowly off the field for his substitution in the 3-2 Coppa Italia victory over Genoa in January.
First team opportunities were few and far between under the new Brazilian coach Leonardo, a continuation of the situation under predecessor Rafa Benitez.
Now at Sunderland he is slowly recapturing his form but the defensive midfielder position where he is being played at the Black Cats would not make Muntari realize his true potential.
Compare that to the position he played when Ghana faced Togo in a friendly in Belgium last month. He was amazing playing just behind the strikers and sometimes on the left of attack – his favourite position.
And if there is anyone in doubt of Muntari’s talent, cue in the opening game of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations when Ghana was playing Guinea.
With only one minute remaining and the home fans heading for a disappointing start to the continental tournament, Muntari pops up and shows a posse of defenders a clean pair of heels before unleashing a piledriver from 30 yards that beat the impressive Guinean goalkeeper – Kemoko Camara – to hand the Black Stars a 2-1 win. A piece of genius in its simplicity. Such a game winner is needed by any team.
At 26, he had won the won the treble of the Italian Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League and the English FA Cup with Inter and Portsmouth.
Muntari was expected to rise and rise to become one of the best players in the world but his talent was being undermined by his disruptive behavior.
He was a hated figure by Ghana team officials who are unwilling to chastise him publicly because they appreciate his talent but abhor the chaos he brings to the squad.
If for both club and country his career was declining because he was being accused of being unruly, then it must be true.
The only good thing we learnt about Muntari’s angry outbursts was that he wants to be among the top performers and it is the reason why he wouldn’t tolerate taking the money and sitting on the bench at Inter – like others would do. He would rather take a pay cut and play regular football at Sunderland.
Now that Sunderland coach Steve Bruce and Ghana boss Stevanovic have given him the chance to revive his career, Muntari must examine career carefully and realize that his unruliness was what nearly killed his profession.
Sulley must not expect an automatic first team place in the Black Stars because Andre Ayew has stepped up to the plate and performed well by fighting for every ball and being a team player. He must replicate this at Sunderland because Bruce wont give him a starting place on a silver platter.
The Black Stars fans still love Sulley but they hate the disturbance he brings to the side. He can only win them over by cleaning up his act and giving his all to the Black Stars cause. The Sunderland fans will expect the same of him. If he whips himself into shape and commits to his career, there is no doubt Inter would want him back.
If Muntari’s legacy is indiscipline, his reputation will be indelibly besmirched – a sad end to a beautiful dream.
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