Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Ghanaâs Uncle Ben Puts His Money on The Black Stars Ben Owusu says Uruguay have got no chance of beating Ghana in football World Cup quarterfinal Darren Taylor | Johannesburg 02 July 2010 On the streets of the African expatriate stronghold of Yeoville, in Johannesburg, everyoneâs 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 paraphernalia almost exclusively. Trader Michael Mashava, from Mozambique, has abandoned selling South African flags in favor of those from Ghana. âI had no choice,â he smiles, âthe Black Star is now Africaâs only hope in this World Cup ⦠Sorry Bafana!â he exclaims, referring to South Africaâs national team thatâs already been ousted from the competition. 'Uncle' Ben Owusu, inside his Johannesburg restaurant, says Ghana will beat Uruguay in today's World Cup quarterfinal 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, everyoneâs 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 âLet me tell you one thing â 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!â His Cameroonian drinking buddy adds, to great laughter, âEveryone is a Ghanaian now, in Africa!â Ben Owusu, one of the most respected members of Johannesburgâs large Ghanaian expatriate community, declares, âEveryoneâs 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 celebrity!â He adds, âIt 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.â Black Stars âused to winningâ Owusu, a local football coach and restaurant owner known as âUncle Ben,â rates the US âmuch higherâ than Uruguay, which he says gives him encouragement ahead of the Black Stars quarterfinal encounter with the South Americans. âAmerica 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,â he says. Mozambican trader Michael Mashava is also behind the Black Stars VOA / D. Taylor 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 trophies itâs won - including last yearâs under-20 World Cup. âSo we trust in them. We have believed that without any of the senior players, these same boys can do it â¦They have the mentality to beat far better teams than Uruguay, no doubt.â Uruguay Owusu acknowledges Uruguay have been âvery impressiveâ in the tournament so far, topping Group A, containing hosts, South Africa, Mexico and France â which included a 3 â 0 mauling of South Africa - and beating plucky South Korea to reach a quarterfinal date with Ghana. âUruguay is a good team, but you canât 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,â the restaurateur states. Owusu maintains âtactical awarenessâ will allow the Black Stars to beat the South Americans. âGhana donât play soccer based on a style, or formation, or whatsoever. They come in and read the opponent before they set up their own tactical approach to the opponent,â he explains. But analysts agree itâll be difficult for Ghana to stop Uruguayâs potent twin strike force of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez. Owusu disagrees with them, exclaiming, âTrust my boys! They are doing it, and they will go further to do it, and possibly keep the World Cup (on) African soil.â Ayew and Mensah are out ⦠The globeâs football lovers world have so far focused on the exploits of Ghanaâs skillful star striker, Asamoah Gyan, in this World Cup. But Owusu says the teamâs progress is largely because of another player. âThe most trusted player among them is (midfielder Andre) Ayew. He is the one considered as the hero and the favorite of the people, now.â outh Africans have emblazoned their cars with Ghana flags to show their support for the Black Stars VOA / D. Taylor 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 â as is key defender Jonathan Mensah, after they both received two yellow cards for foul play in the tournament. Many analysts feel this is going to weigh heavily in Uruguayâs favor. Again, Owusu disagrees. âWe 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,â he says. âGhanaâs strength is that they are a team, not individuals. We have good replacements 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!â South Africans in bars around South Africa are backing the Black Stars VOA / D. Taylor 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. âWe really want that record. The Black Stars want to leave that legacy, and I know they will do it,â Owusu maintains. Later on today, he says, all of Africa will be honoring the Black Stars, their hearts swelling with pride, and the humiliation of the other African teamsâ ignominious exits from the World Cup will be âlong forgotten.â .