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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
On the streets of the African expatriate stronghold of Yeoville, in Johannesburg, everyone’s suddenly a Ghanaian. Nigerians have decorated their restaurants with Black Star flags. South Africans are putting up posters of star Ghanaian players in their apartments. Zimbabwean hawkers are selling Black Star paraphernalia1 almost exclusively.
Trader Michael Mashava, from Mozambique, has abandoned selling South African flags in favor of those from Ghana.
“I had no choice,” he smiles, “the Black Star is now Africa’s only hope in this World Cup … Sorry Bafana!” he exclaims, referring to South Africa’s national team that’s already been ousted2 from the competition.
VOA / D. Taylor
'Uncle' Ben Owusu, inside his Johannesburg restaurant, says Ghana will beat Uruguay in today's World Cup quarterfinal
Inside the bars of Yeoville, everyone’s behind Ghana. In the London Pride pub, four men from South Africa, Zambia and Cameroon sit around a table drinking large bottles of lager.
One of them, Manfred Mukoka, says “Let me tell you one thing – the spirit of Africa is behind (Ghana). We are supporting them, because we have confidence in the Ghanaian team! Ghana is going to win. The South Africans are behind them; everyone!”
His Cameroonian drinking buddy3 adds, to great laughter, “Everyone is a Ghanaian now, in Africa!”
Ben Owusu, one of the most respected members of Johannesburg’s large Ghanaian expatriate community, declares, “Everyone’s congratulating me (since the Black Stars beat the United States last week to make the quarterfinals), as if I myself am playing for the Black Stars! I feel like a celebrity4!”
He adds, “It has come to pass; the dream has come true. So all the Africans have now come together to put their weight (behind) Ghana, hoping that they will still go further to achieve for Africa.”
Black Stars ‘used to winning’
Owusu, a local football coach and restaurant owner known as ‘Uncle Ben,’ rates the US “much higher” than Uruguay, which he says gives him encouragement ahead of the Black Stars quarterfinal encounter with the South Americans.
“America is not a cheap team. People see America as no (good) team. But America has so many times proved to the world that America is a great team,” he says.
Mozambican trader Michael Mashava is also behind the Black Stars
Owusu says this young Black Stars team is used to winning. He says people forget all the international trophies5 it’s won - including last year’s under-20 World Cup.
“So we trust in them. We have believed that without any of the senior players, these same boys can do it …They have the mentality6 to beat far better teams than Uruguay, no doubt.”
Uruguay
Owusu acknowledges Uruguay have been “very impressive” in the tournament so far, topping Group A, containing hosts, South Africa, Mexico and France – which included a 3 – 0 mauling of South Africa - and beating plucky7 South Korea to reach a quarterfinal date with Ghana.
“Uruguay is a good team, but you can’t tell me that it is a far, far better team than USA, Australia or Serbia, and Ghana has come through all of them to reach this point. Ghana has only narrowly lost to Germany, and Germany is a true top side,” the restaurateur states.
Owusu maintains “tactical awareness” will allow the Black Stars to beat the South Americans. “Ghana don’t play soccer based on a style, or formation, or whatsoever8. They come in and read the opponent before they set up their own tactical approach to the opponent,” he explains.
But analysts9 agree it’ll be difficult for Ghana to stop Uruguay’s potent10 twin strike force of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez. Owusu disagrees with them, exclaiming, “Trust my boys! They are doing it, and they will go further to do it, and possibly keep the World Cup (on) African soil.”
Ayew and Mensah are out …
The globe’s football lovers world have so far focused on the exploits of Ghana’s skillful star striker, Asamoah Gyan, in this World Cup. But Owusu says the team’s progress is largely because of another player.
“The most trusted player among them is (midfielder Andre) Ayew. He is the one considered as the hero and the favorite of the people, now.”
outh Africans have emblazoned their cars with Ghana flags to show their support for the Black Stars
But Ayew, the son of Black Stars legend Abedi Pele, is suspended for the crucial game – as is key defender11 Jonathan Mensah, after they both received two yellow cards for foul12 play in the tournament. Many analysts feel this is going to weigh heavily in Uruguay’s favor.
Again, Owusu disagrees.
“We know Ayew has been playing a good part for us. But without him and without Jonathan Mensah, we still have the boys to do the job for us; we are not afraid of Uruguay,” he says.
“Ghana’s strength is that they are a team, not individuals. We have good replacements13 for all these missing people. Remember that people said before the tournament Ghana were finished because (star midfielder) Michael Essien got injured. And look where we are now!”
South Africans in bars around South Africa are backing the Black Stars
Indeed, the Black Stars are on the cusp of making history, and becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals.
“We really want that record. The Black Stars want to leave that legacy14, and I know they will do it,” Owusu maintains.
Later on today, he says, all of Africa will be honoring the Black Stars, their hearts swelling15 with pride, and the humiliation16 of the other African teams’ ignominious17 exits from the World Cup will be “long forgotten.”
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1
paraphernalia
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| n.装备；随身用品 | |
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ousted
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| 驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺 | |
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3
buddy
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| n.（美口）密友，伙伴 | |
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4
celebrity
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| n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望 | |
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trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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6
mentality
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| n.心理，思想，脑力 | |
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plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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8
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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analysts
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| 分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 ) | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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12
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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13
replacements
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| n.代替( replacement的名词复数 )；替换的人[物]；替代品；归还 | |
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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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15
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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