Anthony Obeng Afrane
In Association Football, formation is typically described by three or four numbers. It shows how players in a team generally position themselves on the pitch; and this defines whether a player has been assigned a defensive or an attacking role.
Therefore, management of football teams apply different formations depending on the strength of an opponent.
[ads1]The widely used formation is 4-4-2; this has four defenders, four midfielders and two attackers. Interestingly, a new internecine football formation, 5-3-2-1 has evolved in West Africa, specifically in Ghana.
This formation is obviously a bloated and defensive one – it is packed with family and friends: and this is what a good friend of mine calls kokofu football.
It is an unmistakable picture of the utterly preposterous and incredible happenings in that country – a complete mismatch between expectation and reality.
For readers to have a clearer idea of how a football formation works, I’m going to give a “live commentary” on two teams using different formations.
Ladies and gentlemen, the players of both sides are now on the pitch exchanging felicitations, I can see Opana in a beautiful jersey with the inscription, “Number 12 FC” at the back of it.
The referee blows his whistle for the commencement of the match, Antakyie sends a long one to Sheikh Abu Dhabi, he heads the ball to Senso, Senso chests the ball and sends a long aerial pass to Opana, Opana jumps with all his might, but couldn’t touch the ball with his head because of height disadvantage.
Bawu, however, manages to stop the ball from crossing the touch line. He sends a back pass to Antakyie, Antakyie turns in a “coefficient” style, and sends a long one to Sheikh, Sheikh sends it back to Antakyie. He looks around for Abunapor; Abunapor sends a short pass to Senso; he breaks the ball and sends a long one to Opana, Opana is in a state of indecision, and the ball deflects from his body; it’s a goooooooal; gooooooal.
Laa illaha illa laa, the 5-3-2-1 formation is indeed internecine and ruinous; Opana has scored an own goal, and this puts a huge demand on his team.
Awwww, is this all “So me Hwe” and “Ma Try Ma Kwe” about? This is unbelievably disappointing. Very tristful, and a plain grift. The spectators are visibly angry and I can hear them chanting: “2020 we go show . . .cuhu, caha, cuhu, caha. Aaaah, this cough dey worry me paa, someone should kindly give me some water.
Ladies and gentlemen, there is a drama here; Opana is missing from the pitch; he can’t be found! The Number 12 FC team is vehemently protesting the own goal. Their point is that Opana couldn’t have scored an own goal since he can’t be found on the pitch.
Agya wadzu, trouble come, I can see Referee Amas walking towards the VAR (Video Assistant Referee.) Sosket, ladies and gentlemen, the video footage is being reviewed; the lens is closing in on Antakyie’s breast pocket; Yehowa, I can see a pair of round-rimmed spectacles, can it be a human being? Walahi, this should qualify as one of the wonders of the world if indeed it is.
It is an interesting match, isn’t it? Now I can see the Onaapo Soccer Academy warming up for a demonstration of a 4-4-2 formation.
Bagbin sends a beautiful one to Atubiga; he heads it nicely to Sly, the No Edidi Gya Man dribbles the ball past three men and gives a nice pass to Prof Alabi. He is moving with the ball, he sends a terrific pass to Julius Debrah, he chests the ball and sends a long one to Spio. He dribbles the ball past four men in a Brazilian style; he sends a long one to JM; the Bole man looks vigorous and mettlesome, what can he do? He swings his legs over the ball in a Ronaldinho style.
JM, he surges forward towards the opponent’s area, and it’s a gooooaaaal! The goal is absolutely fantastic by all standards! This will be a feat of lasting value!
Ooooh, everything has come to an end, the referee has blown his whistle for the end of the match!
God bless you all till we meet again in a little long while. I’m off to my farm to fight Nana’s Invisible Army Worms which are destroying my maize.
Tweaakai, I know what some of you are thinking as soon as I mentioned Nana. Please I don’t want any trouble from Yaanom. The chief in the town where I have my farm is called Nana, and I have chosen to name the Army Worms after him; this one too be trouble?
Anthony Obeng Afrane
