Dubai Cup: Trip In Doubt

With three days to the start of the Dubai International tournament, Ghana is still uncertain of whether she will play in the competition. This is because the GFA is yet to receive word from the organisers of the tournament whether the game is coming on.

The FA says it has confirmed its interest to the United Arab Emirates Football Federation but were yet to hear from them as at yesterday.

Ghana was originally billed to play Belarus, U.A.E and world Cup semi finalist Turkey from January 5-7. Turkey has however pulled out claiming its status, as world cup semi finalist would take a battering if they play in the tournament, which they consider second rate.

Coach E.K Afranie is eager for Ghana to participate in the competition because he says the exposure would be good for his players

Ghana Gets Ready

30.12.2002 -- The Black Stars is expected to be strengthened by some key foreign based players for their January 5-7 Dubai four team tournament.

Caretaker coach, Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie is considering inviting some foreign-based players to add up to his local based squad for the tournament that will feature world cup semi finalist Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Belarus. Afranie hopes Stars captain Stephen Appiah would be available to lead the team.

The coach is also hoping to get the services of Sturm Graz striker Charles Amoah and Ghana’s most consistent striker in the German Bundesliga Lawrence Aidoo who is yet to be capped by the Black Stars despite some fine displays for Borussia Monchengladbach.

Ghana confirmed its participation Monday after intense deliberations between the organizers and the Ghana Football Association.

Turkey pull out of Dubai tournament, say "not serious"

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey have pulled out of an international tournament in Dubai next month, saying it is not serious enough for a country that came third in the World Cup.

Turkey were due to play Ghana and Belarus in the three-team friendly tournament from January 3 to 8.

But team manager Can Cobanoglu said he had not been impressed by an inspection of the facilities.

"In the end we decided that the organisation did not match the seriousness of the national team and we cancelled," he told the state-run Anatolian news agency.

The football federation said in a statement that the Dubai tournament "did not match the principles of our national team".

"The Turkish national team does not go to a training camp just for the fun of it. It doesn't go to tournaments to earn money like some teams," Cobanoglu said.

"Turkey are one of the world's best teams. Principles come first."

Coach Senol Gunes had called up a range of youngsters and national team newcomers for the Dubai tournament in preparation for Turkey's European championship qualifying Group Seven game against England in Sunderland on April 2.

England are five points behind Turkey in the group with a game in hand.

The cancellation of the Dubai fixture leaves Turkey's preparations for the England match up in the air.