Bekoe to Grant: “Play John Antwi against Egypt, he knows them very well”

Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Petrojet great Eric Bekoe has offered an intelligent advice to head coach of the Black Stars of Ghana – Avram Grant- for him to consider selecting Ahly’s John Antwi for the crucial Egypt – Ghana 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying game on November 13th.

Bekoe netted 17 times for Asante Kotoko in the 2007/08 Ghana Premier League and went on to confirm his greatness in Egypt scoring a good number of goals in three years for Petrojet and knows much about Egyptian football. He was capped 12 times for the Black Stars.

Ghana drew 0-0 at home to Uganda on Day 1 of the qualifying tournament, but the Pharoahs won away at Congo.

Antwi has been playing in Egypt for the past three years for Ismaily and Al Ahly, and Bekoe wants Avram Grant to use vital Antwi as a trump card against the Egyptians come November 13th.

"Whenever Egypt is going into a top game like against Ghana, they prepare very well, and the atmosphere in the country is massive. They prepare in a different way and you know Ghana is the Brazilians of African football. They respect Ghana.

"When you play Egypt, you need total concentration. I want to say that this is an opportunity for the Black Stars coach to use a player like John Antwi of Al Ahly against Egypt because he knows them very well.

Majority of the players Egypt will use against Ghana will come from the Egyptian league and Antwi has been playing with them, and he’s been scoring too, and he knows their style of play. Some of them are even his club teammates, ” Eric Bekoe told Sportsworldghana.com’s Gariba Raubil in an exclusive interview.

Bekoe finished as top goalscorer for relegated Sekondi-Hasaacas in the 2016 Ghana League.

“It's not like I am campaigning for Antwi to be called to the national team, but it's like a researcher who is going to a village to conduct a research and for him to be successful- he needs to consult the local folks who know the village. I think it's a similar situation we face now.

"If you look at the game against Uganda in Tamale, you realise the Ugandans were tactically disciplined and run away with a point. If we get Antwi on board against Egypt, I trust it will be good to the Black Stars. There are other Ghanaian players like Banahene and Torric Jebrin who are playing well too and can be considered for the game. ” the former Ghana League goal king added.