I want to be like my brother, Sulley - Muniru

Sulley Muniru, the younger brother of Ghana and Al Ittihad midfielder Sulley Muntari, says he hopes to take after the latter’s illustrious career in both club and country.

Muntari represented Ghana at three Fifa World Cup tournaments as well as two Africa Cup of Nations, having earlier won silver with the Black Satellites at the 2001 Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Argentina.

The 31-year-old has also been largely successful at club level, winning the English Fa Cup with Portsmouth in 2008 as well as the Uefa Champions League and the Fifa Club World Cup with Inter Milan under Jose Mourinho in 2010.

“He [Muntari] is my elder brother and at the same time my role model,” Muniru told TV3.

“He has achieved a lot in football. He has played for the Black Stars and a lot of European clubs and he has done well.

“My aim is to follow in his footsteps. What he did in the Black Stars, what he’s still doing, I’m ready to do same. I just have to concentrate on what I am doing and pray. I think I will be more.”

Having also played for Udinese and AC Milan in Italy as well as Sunderland in the English topflight, Muntari also boasts of two Serie A titles (2008-09, 2009-10), two Coppa Italia trophies (2009-10, 2010-11) and Italian Super Cup winner’s medals in 2008-09 and 2010-11.

The former Liberty Professionals man’s career is, however, not without blemish as he was sent home from camp ahead of Ghana’s opener with Italy at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, on disciplinary grounds.

At the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil, Muntari was again sent away from camp for “an unprovoked physical attack” on a Black Stars Management Committee member.

Muniru, 23, is currently on the books of Romanian side Steaua Bucuresti after spending three seasons with CFR Cluj.