Bekoe, others in Black Stars

Black Stars coach, Milovan Rajevac, is expected to present to the Ghana Football Association, a provisional list of 35 players out of which a final 23 would be selected to represent Ghana at the World Cup in South Africa World Cup in June.

With some of the senior players likely to miss the Mundial through injuries, the Black Stars coach has thrown the lifeline to some of the players, some of whom  have had stint with the national team are often considered as the fans’ favourites to justify themselves.

Eric Bekoe

It is still not clear whether first team players like Michael Essien, John Paintsil, John Mensah and skipper Stephen Appiah will recover in time for the tournament, hence the decision by the coach to invite other relatively experienced players to beef up the team.

Like his compatriot, Ratomir Dujkovic did in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Ghanaian coach intends organising some high profile and other low key matches outside of the FIFA friendly matches calendar for the justifiers.

The players include Eric Bekoe, Jonathan Quartey, Bernard Yao Kumordjie, Quincy Owusu Abeyie and Kwame Quansah. The others are Kevin Prince-Boateng, goalkeepers Amamoo and George Owu, Sam Yeboah, Nana Kwesi Asare, Prince Abankwah Buabeng and Manual Junior Agogo.

Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s leading marksman, Eric Bekoe, is the leading goal-scorer in the Egyptian league, taking his goal haul this season to 13 after scoring two against Zamalek over the weekend.

Bekoe’s club Petrojet however lost the thrilling Zamalek encounter 3-2.

Bekoe was on song during Petrojet’s qualification to the next round of the Confederation Cup scoring two in the two legged matches.

Yao Kumordjie is the engine room of Greek side, Panionios, and scored the opener in the club’s 3-0 thumping of FC Xanthi at the weekend with Kwame Quansah of Dutch side Heracles Almelo who had a great game over the weekend over struggling Willem Tilburb also being considered in the justifier.

Yao Kumordjie was a member of the Black Stars team during the 2008 African Nations Cup held in Ghana. Kwame Quansah has been in fine form this season for the Dutch side where he is often referred to as the powerhouse of Heracles Almelo’s midfield.

Another promising midfielder who is being given a chance in the new-look Black Stars is Prince Buaben of Dundee United in Scotland. Buabeng was in inspirational form for his club when they beat Heart of Midlothians on Saturday.

Quincy Owusu Abeyie is perhaps in the form of his life since joining premiership side, Portsmouth during the winter transfer from Russia side, Spartak Moscow. He is now an integral part of the Pompey side and might be a good addition to the makeshift Black Stars team.

With injury to workaholic winger Opoku Agyemang now confirmed, Owusu Abeyie might be the best replacement to the Al-Saad of Qatar forward.

Although his name is included in the provisional team, Quincy’s team mate, Kevin Prince Boateng, seems to be a sure bet for the South African World Cup. Currently nursing an injury, Milovan hopes, the Portsmouth winger will recover in time to feature in the friendlies.

Former Heart of Lions striker, Sam Yeboah, is also being considered to fight for a claim in the striking options of the Black Stars. Sam Yeboah moved from Egypt to Racing Genk of Belgium during the winter transfer.  Sam Yeboah’s team lost to Abdul Yekini Iddi’s KV Mechelen over the weekend.

Manuel Junior Agogo is the other player who the Black Stars coach has re-called into the provisional team for the World Cup. The Cyprus based striker has once again found his scoring form with Cyprus champions Apollona.

There is however a special dispensation being offered to O.J. Nice’s Ghanaian defender Jonathan Quartey although he has failed to commandeer a regular team play at the French side. The coach is said to be worried about the injury of Isaac Vorsah and uncertainty surrounding the fitness level of John Mensah and is looking for a buck-up and in his opinion, an in-form Quartey might be the most suitable replacement to the two.