Muntari is exceptional - Dujkovic

Wurzburg, June 19, GNA - Coach Ratomir Dujkovic has described Sulley Ali Muntari as exceptional- something he says makes his task of selecting a replacement for him very tedious.

The coach is forced to make changes to the team that won 2-0 against the Czech Republic on Saturday after goal scorers, Asamoah Gyan and Muntari picked their second bookings each.

"Muntari is exceptional and that makes my job to find a replacement for him more hectic, he said."

The players picked a card each in their games against Italy and the Czechs respectively and the Serbian told the GNA Sports in Wurzburg that his focus in the next few days would be finding the duo's replacement. In searching for that replacement, Dujkovic said "I will be looking for players with similarities as Sulley and Gyan. Both players are special in their own ways and I do not expect to get others with the same qualities as theirs. But I'm convinced we have players who are equal to the task.

"I believe in the abilities of the boys and their desire to perform at all levels no matter what."

He told the GNA Sports that the players had calmed down well after the victory on Saturday and he was buoyant that they would translate their form into positive results in the next game.

"The players have shown they are professionals and have put the victory party on hold. I'm sure they will fight for another good result which is very important to us."

Baring any last minute injuries, the former Rwanda coach hopes to keep faith in the team that he said "fared excellently" against the Czechs, ranked second in the World by FIFA.

He is expected to start Shilla Illiasu and Habib Mohammed in the defence though it's unknown if he would start Otto Addo in place of Eric Addo in the middle where Muntari would be missing.

Dujkovic said his charges had their work, well cut out for them and he was optimistic they would live up to expectations.

"We have already accepted Asamoah and Muntari will not be available and have prepared mentally for the vacuum they will create. What we need to do is to work as a team, help each other and repeat our performances with Italy and Czech and we are there."