http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/07/10/ghana.obama/index.html
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama was due in Ghana Friday, generating excitement in the west African nation and envy among its neighbors with many seeing his visit as sending a message to other APL teams over their poor records on roster stability. The President is expected to attend a Buffalo's game tomorrow afternoon.
President Obama says he chose Ghana partly because of the team's commitment to player development.
Across Ghana, street vendors were stocking miniature American flags while citizens donned attire with pictures of the U.S. leader.
"People in Ghana are printing clothes for this occasion," said Adrian Landry, general manager of a beach hotel in the capital, Accra.
"The fact that his father is African and he picked us makes us special," he said. "He is endorsing our strong football program in Ghana. This is historic."
The president's visit to the nation is the third by a sitting American leader. Bill Clinton was the first U.S. president to visit Ghana in 1998 as part of a six-nation Africa tour. Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, stopped there as part of a four-nation Africa tour during his last year of office.
"Bush received a positive response, but since the Buffalos were only in AA at the time, it didn't compare to this," Landry said.
Various prominent African-Americans, including Maya Angelou and Muhammad Ali, have made stops in the country to watch the Ghana Buffalos play.
As Ghana basked in the glow, other APL teams across Africa asked different variations of the same question: Why not us?
Obama summed up the answer in two words: roster commitment.
"By traveling to Ghana, we hope to highlight the effective player development program that they have in place," Obama said in an interview with AllAPL.com, which highlights news from the league.
During his one-day visit, Obama will meet Ghana Buffalos Co-owner, Doc_Nilla, who took over co-ownership of the team during season 7.
Ghana, whose Buffalo football team have made the playoffs every season since the creation of the African League in Season 2, was the first sub-Saharan team to gain independence, went through growing pains, including a staunch military rule, but emerged as a democracy in 1992. It gained independence from Britain in 1957.
The team has maintained a clean image in a continent known for conflict. The transfer of coaching responsibility after each season in recent years has often gone smoothly, earning the team international fans in a region where most team management are ousted kicking and screaming when a season is over.
Despite its progress, Ghana has its flaws.
It remains dependent on on a strong defense, even with the abundant natural talent of players on offense, including three excellent half-backs and a strong receiving corp, Its per game scoring has barely increased over the past 5 seasons, and the offense is often out scored by the defense.
Meanwhile, as the country geared up for the visit by the first U.S. president with African roots, others watched from a distance.
In Uganda, where Obama's father was once lived, the reviews were mixed. While some understood his choice, others blamed the "snub" on politics.
"I don't like the fact that he is looking at everything from a player development stand point," said Hokiemon of the Lake Opeta Legionnaires, a major force in the APL Elephant conference for many seasons. "No team is perfect, and he should not punish team management at the expense of the little people." Hokiemon added, "For fuck-sake, we're 10-0 while Ghana is struggling to remain above .500!"
Vincent Ludwig, 52, called Obama's choice a "smart" move.
"He is setting precedent for team managers that they should deliver what they promised," said R.A. Sputin, Ghana Buffalos special team captain who led the league with 24 forced fumbles last season. "The fact that his father lived in Uganda does not mean LoL should get golden spoons."
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(CNN) -- President Barack Obama was due in Ghana Friday, generating excitement in the west African nation and envy among its neighbors with many seeing his visit as sending a message to other APL teams over their poor records on roster stability. The President is expected to attend a Buffalo's game tomorrow afternoon.
President Obama says he chose Ghana partly because of the team's commitment to player development.
Across Ghana, street vendors were stocking miniature American flags while citizens donned attire with pictures of the U.S. leader.
"People in Ghana are printing clothes for this occasion," said Adrian Landry, general manager of a beach hotel in the capital, Accra.
"The fact that his father is African and he picked us makes us special," he said. "He is endorsing our strong football program in Ghana. This is historic."
The president's visit to the nation is the third by a sitting American leader. Bill Clinton was the first U.S. president to visit Ghana in 1998 as part of a six-nation Africa tour. Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, stopped there as part of a four-nation Africa tour during his last year of office.
"Bush received a positive response, but since the Buffalos were only in AA at the time, it didn't compare to this," Landry said.
Various prominent African-Americans, including Maya Angelou and Muhammad Ali, have made stops in the country to watch the Ghana Buffalos play.
As Ghana basked in the glow, other APL teams across Africa asked different variations of the same question: Why not us?
Obama summed up the answer in two words: roster commitment.
"By traveling to Ghana, we hope to highlight the effective player development program that they have in place," Obama said in an interview with AllAPL.com, which highlights news from the league.
During his one-day visit, Obama will meet Ghana Buffalos Co-owner, Doc_Nilla, who took over co-ownership of the team during season 7.
Ghana, whose Buffalo football team have made the playoffs every season since the creation of the African League in Season 2, was the first sub-Saharan team to gain independence, went through growing pains, including a staunch military rule, but emerged as a democracy in 1992. It gained independence from Britain in 1957.
The team has maintained a clean image in a continent known for conflict. The transfer of coaching responsibility after each season in recent years has often gone smoothly, earning the team international fans in a region where most team management are ousted kicking and screaming when a season is over.
Despite its progress, Ghana has its flaws.
It remains dependent on on a strong defense, even with the abundant natural talent of players on offense, including three excellent half-backs and a strong receiving corp, Its per game scoring has barely increased over the past 5 seasons, and the offense is often out scored by the defense.
Meanwhile, as the country geared up for the visit by the first U.S. president with African roots, others watched from a distance.
In Uganda, where Obama's father was once lived, the reviews were mixed. While some understood his choice, others blamed the "snub" on politics.
"I don't like the fact that he is looking at everything from a player development stand point," said Hokiemon of the Lake Opeta Legionnaires, a major force in the APL Elephant conference for many seasons. "No team is perfect, and he should not punish team management at the expense of the little people." Hokiemon added, "For fuck-sake, we're 10-0 while Ghana is struggling to remain above .500!"
Vincent Ludwig, 52, called Obama's choice a "smart" move.
"He is setting precedent for team managers that they should deliver what they promised," said R.A. Sputin, Ghana Buffalos special team captain who led the league with 24 forced fumbles last season. "The fact that his father lived in Uganda does not mean LoL should get golden spoons."
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Edited by Lensar on Jul 10, 2009 13:07:26
Edited by Lensar on Jul 10, 2009 13:04:01
Edited by Lensar on Jul 10, 2009 13:02:16
