Posted On Thursday, 25th April 2013
Thomas Teye Partey has made appearance for Atletico Madrid’s first team this season
By Akyereko Frimpong Manson
Baba Mensah and Frank Sarfo-Gyamfi have been axed but their absence is not much of a concern than some starlets with steel who were overlooked by Sellas Tetteh.
Ghana U20 coach Sellas Tetteh took the first step towards preparations of the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey by announcing a 41-man squad on Wednesday morning.
Fifteen foreign-based players have been handed call-ups to vie for places in the final squad but there are more who could have brought something extra.
Daniel Pappoe – Chelsea
Daniel Mills Pappoe of Chelsea
A powerful center-back who captains Chelsea U21 side, Pappoe is 19 and has been with the Young Blues since the tender age of 12.
He played in maiden edition of the NextGen Series, a U20 version of the Uefa Champions League, taking Chelsea to the quarter-final.
He has currently helped Chelsea to the final of the FA Youth Cup after playing a key role in the semi-final victory over Liverpool.
Yussif Raman Chibsah – Sassuolo
Raman Chibsah has been influential in Sassuolo’s push for promotion
Chibsah trained with the U20 side last June and he showed his qualities at Presec.
The 20-year-old, partially owned by giants Juventus, has made 24 appearances at Sassuolo this season and has contributed one goal to the promotion campaign.
It is more disappointing to think he cannot make the grades when 41 U20 players are being selected.
Something certainly did not go right somewhere.
Thomas Partey – Atletico Madrid
The midfielder, 19, has made one La Liga appearance at Spanish giants Atletico Madrid this season- that coming in the home defeat to Real Sociedad in March.
Partey is a great talent and has has been quite evident in the games he has played this season for the club’s reserves.
Most of Spain U20 players are Partey’s Atletico Madrid team-mate and he would have been a priceless addition especially when the entertaining European side are our group opponents.
The Swedish Allsvenskan’s van Persie, Nasiru Mohammed, was also overlooked
Nasiru Mohammed – BK Hacken
Nasiru exclusion from the team is even more surprising.
The 18-year-old was the captain of the unsuccessful 2010 Ghana U17 side.
After arriving in Sweden at the second half of the season, the little man took the Swedish Allsvenskan by storming scoring important goals to ensure his side secure a Uefa Europa League spot.
It won’t be late before we realise we have made a big mistake with the youngster’s exclusion.
Said Ahmed Said – Genoa
Little is still known about the former Inter youth schoolboy but his Serie A goal for Genoa against Chievo Verona put him in the spotlight.
The 19-year-old has gone ahead to make 4 Serie A appearances for Genoa and at least Tetteh’s plan to invite a huge 41 man squad should have included him.