Soccer News of Thursday, 6 October 2016
Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh
2016-10-06
Black Stars trainer, Avram Grant
Black Stars trainer, Avram Grant says Ghana has got the quality to make a fourth straight appearance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Ghana has been drawn in Group E alongside powerhouse Egypt, Congo and Uganda.
The Black Stars will on Friday begin their journey to the Mundial with a game against the Cranes of Uganda at the Tamale Sports Stadium.
Coach Grant who took charge of his side’s first training session ahead of the game yesterday at the Accra Sports Stadium told the media after the session that the team has the talent and quality to top the group and make it to Russia.
“We are in a very tough group where all the teams are capable of qualifying; however we would give it our best shot to be able to make it.”
According to him, the aim is to finish first in the group to guarantee qualification.
Captain of the side, Asamoah Gyan who is making a return to the side after an injury setback said the qualifiers present a long journey which must have each and every Ghanaian coming together to join force and make sure the Black Stars gets there.
“When the Black Stars team is playing it is the whole of Ghana that is playing, we are just a representation of the larger population and without the backing of the whole country we cannot make it.”
He noted that since becoming a member of the national team in 2003, the Ugandans have been a ‘headache’, adding that, “mostly we either draw or they win but the time has come for us to stop them and do so in style on Friday.”
Midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu said the playing body is worried at the lack of support from Ghanaians in recent times and pleaded with the fans to put the past behind and support the team to victory.
In all 20 of the 23 regular players trained yesterday under Grant with Adam Larsen Kwarasey, Thomas Partey and Jeffrey Schlupp expected to join this morning.
The team will emplane to Tamale this morning to continue preparation for the game.