English Premier League side Chelsea have taken three young Ghanaian players with the aim of signing them if they impress on trials which is expected to start on Wednesday.
The trio Shaban Muntari, Joseph Amoah and Abednego Ashitey, who play for the United Through Sport Ghana (UTS) Academy, are expected to arrive in Stamford Bridge today to begin the trial.
Coach Jose Mourinho will keep a close watch over the three talented players to see if they will fit in the future plans of the Blues who are seeking young players to boost their squad for the future.
However the trio will also have sessions with other English clubs notably Norwich City, Portsmouth FC, Brighton & Hove Albion and Scottish side St. Mirren during the three months trial period.
In a pre-departure chat with the Times Sports, the trio promised to make use of the opportunity presented them to keep that door opened to the rest of their colleagues in the academy.
“We may have been the lucky ones to be selected for this opportunity, but I believe the talent in our academy is far more than anyone can comprehend”, Ashittey stated.
As the first batch of players from the academy to embark on such a trip, they vowed to be worthy ambassadors for the country, adding that, it is rare for a young academy which has been in existence for just a year to have this opportunity.
Coach of the academy Isaac Nii Armah, a CAF license B coach a and assistant Michael Osei expressed delight at the chance and expressed the hope that the discipline instilled in them at the academy coupled with their talents will propel them to higher heights.
Chief Executive Officer at the Academy, James Dzandza, said his desire is to transform the lives of the young ones through sports and was happy for the opportunity presented to the players.
“We as an academy have done our best to give them the platform to showcase what they have; now it is their turn to prove to all that they have got what it takes to make it at the big stage.”
The Teshie based academy which also has tennis and boxing wing that trains athletes in both disciplines, is an international sports development Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), that seeks primarily to combine education and sports as well as offer financial support to talented young people in the country.