You are here: HomeSports2016 04 27Article 434134

Sports Features of Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Source: sportscrusader.com

Top 10 most under rated players in the GPL

The 2016 Ghana Premier League (GPL) campaign continues to enjoy massive media coverage both on the domestic and the international scene. The nine game old league could not have asked for any more media reportage after its viral status was highlighted by international broadcaster, CNN.

The real architects of the season are however been sidelined for their glamorous colleagues who bang in the goals. Sportscrusader.com’s Saani Abacha takes a look at 10 of the most underrated players on the local scene.

1. Edward Ebo Mends- Defensive Midfielder/ Liberty Professionals

The name Liberty Professionals this season is synonymous to Latif Atta Blessing on the mouth of any media personnel or fan of the Dansoman based club. The pocket size centre forward leads the scoring chart in the league with 7 goals in 9 games. The real arsenal within the realms of the Scientific Soccer lads is their talisman in midfield Edward Ebo Mends who continues to blossom on weekly basis. The hard tackling midfielder can be likened to Sergio Busquetes in FC Barcelona only mobs the dirt left by his forward.

2. Saddick Alhassan- Defensive Midfielder/Wa All Stars

The league leaders has Saddick Alhassan for their place at the top of the log after nine rounds of league matches. The former Dreams FC and Kotoko’s energetic midfielder might be trailing his attacking colleagues of Richard Arthur, Emmanuel Ocran and Maxwell Asare, but his exploits remain priceless in their quest for domestic glory at the end of the season. The talented midfielder has unfortunately been blacklisted by many media houses and personnel despite his intelligence on the pitch.

3. Seth Opare- Central Midfielder/Aduana Stars

Yahaya Mohammed and Bright Adjei might be hovering on the front pages of the newspapers but the real gem in the ranks of Aduana Stars is Seth Opare. As usual of any midfielder, Opare combines vision on the pitch with large reservoir of energy to boot. The Nana Agyemang Badu Park outfit are on an impressive run on the league not because of Yahaya’s five goals in the last two matches but surely because of the fluidity of Opare at the heart of the pitch. If Bright Adjei’s cycle kick goal away to AshGold won him global audience why not Seth Opare on the local scene?

4. Patrick Cole- Right Back / Bechem United

As the firsy defender on the list, it sums up Patrick’s enormous importance to Bechem United. The marauding wing back could not have done any more to confirm his readiness for the global market. With pearling crosses from either foot, Cole comes in the mold of Daniel Opare with lung busting runs down the flanks. The fullback however looks crowded by his attacking colleagues in the eyes of the media. Are the coaches reading?

5. James Boadu-Defensive Midfielder/New Edubiase

Anthony Commey’s men compounded the woes of Kumasi Asante Kotoko over the weekend largely down to the exploits of James Boadu at the middle of the pitch. The ambidextrous defensive screen has specialised himself into one of the finest central midfielders on the local scene. Technically known as the water carrier in the eyes of the coaches, James remains one player that has suffered the media black list for a long time. The talented midfielder further boosted his future in the game by adding dead balls to his game as he targets that missing spot light.

6. Samuel Sarfo- Central Defender/Liberty Professionals

As a police man by profession, Corporal Sarfo has extended his professional ethics onto the field with precision. The commanding centre back has already ‘arrested’ several renowned players (including John Mahama) in the opening nine matches for Liberty Professionals. The versatile defender arrested Baba ‘John’ Mahama even without handcuffs as Liberty tamed Techiman City in Dansoman. To have been left behind by the Ghanaian media could be pinned down to the fear of getting arrested by the Police man turned footballer. Victims like Baba John Mahama, Ropapa Mensah, Samuel Tetteh,Saddick Adams and Eric Kwabena Bekoe can testify to his watchful eyes.

7. Paul Aidoo-Central Midfielder/Medeama SC

The current Medeama SC set up is supposedly led by Abass Mohammed, Malik Akowuah and Kwesi Donsu. The trio continue to hijack weekly headlines for their goals either in the league or in African club competitions. The real armory for Tom Strand’s men however is Paul Aidoo who keep screening Muntari Tagoe on weekly basis. The experience midfielder might just be the missing piece in the jig saw puzzle ahead of Medeama SC’s trip to South Africa for the Sundowns clash.

8. Okyere Sarpong-Right Back/Techiman City

The name Techiman City comes alongside Micky Charles, Kofi Manu or Baba Mahama. Fanatics and followers alike in the game have barely heard of Okyere Sarpong even in the Brong Ahafo region talk less of nationwide audience. The City wing-back has however carved a niche for himself with nine straight appearances to his name on the local league even under the current neglected terrain. Baba Mahama might be customising boots on regular basis but the star forward remains isolated without those devilish balls from Okyere. Hasn’t he done enough to merit the media hype?

9. Hudu Yakubu- Left Back/AshGold

Unfortunately peaking in a struggling AshGold side, Yakubu’s no show in the media limelight is some how accepted. The experience defender took off from last season’s impeccable form with the Miners but the domestic frailties have negatively barred him from the media limelight. The Obuasi based side continues their downward spiral in the league despite the imposing nature of Hudu on the wing. Will he get that missing attention when the champions finally click?

10. Magnus Ebo Mends- Central Midfielder/ Sekondi Hasaacas

Playing under a star forward will need a lot of magic to headline the newspapers and that is exactly what Ebo Mends is facing. The presence of Eric Bekoe has more than blacklisted the hardworking midfielder from the media reportage. Magnus remains an integral member of Yussif Bassigi’s men on the local scene but the BRAND BEKOE will not allow him to get his needed attention. The talented midfielder has seen his place in the media landscape maligned by injuries and his star forward as he continues to pierce his way into the much talked about home based players.