Passion Without Borders: The Aston Villa-Ghana Connection

Aston Villa's deep roots in Ghana, established in the 1990s, continue to foster a steady rise in fandom prior to the beginning of every new Premier League season. The Club has become a toast of many in this side of the continent, translating to a surge in the Villan family. The big question is: Could there be cogent factors fueling Aston Villa's new explosion in Ghana?

For many Ghanaian football enthusiasts, big names like Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City are the easy way out. Yet, Aston Villa has a unique claim to fame: Juaben's Aston Villa obsessity, arrivals of familiar Ghanaian faces at Villa Park, coupled with other key factors in the last few years at the iconic Villa Park, have caused several neutrals to sway from the normal Premier League followings in the West African country.

MCGRATH: ASTON VILLA'S BORDERLESS HERO

For the new generation of Premier League followers, Paul McGrath is a name that could be unfamiliar to their ears, but for old folks, he will probably be one of the greatest players they've ever enjoyed watching. Mr. Daniel, a native of Juaben, before passing away, described Paul McGrath as a "God" on the field for Aston Villa. This marked the beginning of Villa's grip on Ghanaian fandom.

Since then, the statement has ignited passion and curiosity in his grandson, Owusu Boakye Amando, to develop an unflinching love for Aston Villa, leading to several converted thousands for the Birmingham-based outfit in Juaben.

"When we were kids, my grandpa used to tell stories and history about the club to us. He used to talk about a certain player, which he describes as God. So, everyone was curious, and we wanted to know why," said Amando. "He said, 'There is a God in football, and his name is Paul McGrath.'"

"[My grandpa's] father got a chance to live with some locals; they had a huge influence on love for Aston Villa. They spoke about Aston Villa and McGrath's extraordinary performances in defense. It was so strong that Grandpa became an addictive Villa fan," gleefully said the Ghana Lions founder.

"I think it's evident on the streets of Ghana, not just Juaben in the Ashanti Region, the following for my dear club is increasing, and I can only be excited that many people have come to recognize we're a force to reckon with, but all thanks to Birmingham locals, Grandpa, and Paul McGrath for inspiring an Aston Villa moment in Africa."

Paul McGrath, for many old followers of the Premiership and Ireland's The Green Army, perhaps is the best they have manufactured on the island. It's been 28 years since McGrath kicked a competitive ball at Villa Park, but his status as an Aston Villa legend remains undiminished by time. He is a double League Cups winner and the PFA Players' Player of the Year in 1993 - a rarity for a central defender.

"Paul said to me, 'How is life, Amando?' - a moment I will never forget, talking to him after his son put me through on a phone call with the legend." At first, I said to myself, "How can this guy say he is the legend's son with just a normal text under my post on social media?"
 

BEYOND THE JUABEN NARRATIVE

It's surprising how many headlines have captured Aston Villa's popularity in Ghana without referencing Ghanaian players who've played at Villa Park's influence. Being the first Ghanaian arrival at the club in 1994, Lamptey's time at Aston Villa sparked a loyal following in his home country, with Elmina, his birthplace, becoming a stronghold of Villa support. Although his performance fell short of expectations, Nii Odartey Lamptey, a star of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, still managed to score 3 goals.

" The Premier League has a huge audience in Ghana, so it's not surprising to see clubs outside the Big Six garnering a huge following. Aston Villa was also home to one of Ghana's greats, Nii Odartey Lamptey, during the 90s." said Daniel Koranteng, a sports journalist with the Multimedia Group

Even more luring was the arrival of Ghana's showboy, Jordan Ayew, in 2015, who played for two seasons, An era that won over many neutral fans, who fell in love with the Villans.

Another signee is Albert Adomah. Although, Adomah may not fit the traditional mold of a homegrown player, his ancestral roots and representation of the Ghanaian Black Stars provide sufficient connection to further enhance Villa's Ghana influx. Adomah is a beloved figure at the club despite closing his chapter with the Lions in 2019, thanks to his genuine passion for Aston Villa and impressive performances in the Championship.

Besides, the Ghanaian correlation, Villa's African taste has obviously swelled numbers too. The presence of the African Cup of Nations stars from different generations like Marvelous Nakamba, Trezeguet, Ahmed Elmohamady (widely declared by Birmingham faithfuls as the 'Egyptian King' long before Mo Salah), and Senegal's Idrissa Gueye have brought the club into the African spotlight. Also, Ghana's ex-assistant coach George Boateng was a name on the lips of many at the Villa Park between 1999 to 2002.
Albeit, born in Nkawkaw valley, Boateng chose to represent the Dutch national team; nevertheless, his hometown of Nkawkaw developed big hearts for the iconic claret and blue since their homeboy blazed the trail.

The Premier League's unmatched worldwide broadcast feed cannot be overlooked in establishing Aston Villa's Ghanaian dominance. Coupled with Villa's rivalry and top performances against the 'big six' clubs since returning to the EPL in 2019.

And according to Michael Kofi Oduro, ace sports broadcaster at Ignite Media Group, Aston Villa's impressive performances are a magnet for new followers. "Top-performing teams naturally win hearts," he observes.

Meanwhile, Media General's Sports Anchor, Owuraku Ampofo, credits social media for amplifying Aston Villa's visibility. " Social media is now a powerful medium; I think Aston Villa is connecting well with its fans " he applauds.

GHANAIANS BY BIRTH, VILLANS BY HEART

Match days have become an exciting spectacle for Aston Villa fans in Ghana. The enthusiastic chants of "Come On, Villa!" and "Gooooal, Villa!" echo through match centers across the country.

Aston Villa boasts an unyielding support base in Ghana now. Amando, founder of Ghana Lions, aims to nurture young football dreams and create euphoria around Villa games. He envisions a Ghanaian community represented at Villa Park.

"When we finally visit Villa Park, we won't sleep in hotels; we'll sleep in the Holte End, our home and room!" Amando exclaimed.

Ghana Lions is recognized in Birmingham, and Amando plans to expand the group nationwide, tapping into the team's massive following.

"Though difficult to quantify, our numbers run into thousands," he says.

However, renowned sports journalist Kelvin Owusu Ansah attributes Aston Villa's appeal to Ghanaians to the club's inclusive culture. He cites the 'Juaben unique story' as a prime example, highlighting how the team's warm embrace has won over fans from the region.

We're more than a family, chanting 'Villa for life.' We play football and jog together." Francis Owusu Nyarko, a dedicated Ghana Lions member remarked.