"Local" Kuffour gets Benfica trial

Ghanaian striker, Emmanuel Kuffour could be joining Pedro Mantorras at Benfica if his trials with the Portuguese side are successful. Kuffour, who has just helped Hearts to win the Ghanaian league for the fifth season in a row, will be in Benfica for at least five days.

He will then have to join his national side in Algeria for an African Nations Cup friendly.

Benfica is Kuffour's third destination for trials since his 10 goals guided Hearts of Oak to lift the African Champions League last year.

Medical problems

He is hoping to make a name for himself at the Portugese club, like Mantorras who is the clubs' top goalscorer this season.

Kuffour's possible move to Sharktar Donetsk in the Ukraine failed to go through after he failed a medical.

He was then due to travel to the United Arab Emirates for a second trial, but was operated on to remove a gallstone from his stomach.

With his medical condition rehabilitated after a two-month break from football, the Ghanaian striker was unable to join Al Ain in the UAE due to conflicting reasons.