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Soccer News of Tuesday, 15 January 2013

Source: Abagna Jose Nelson, Bolgatanga

Chelsea coach backs club’s players to shine at AFCON 2013

The head coach of Berekum Chelsea, Yusif Abubakar says he is very pleased seeing two of his players securing a place in the senior national team, the Black Stars for next week Nation’s Cup South Africa.

Chelsea duo, Richard Kissi Boateng and Solomon Asante are in the final 23-man squad named by confident Stars coach, Kwesi Appiah the tournament which sees Ghana kick off against DR Congo on January 20. The former Accra Hearts of Oak coach insists his two players deserved their places in the national team.

“I am very happy to see two of my boys in the national team and even more delighted for the fact that we are the only team in the country that have two players in the team,’’ Coach Abubakar ecstatically stated. He continued: “I have worked with Richard and Solomon and I can tell you that those boys deserved their places in the team because they are very good at their positions. I was not surprised when they made the final cut and I’m hopeful that the two will live up to expectations to the admiration of Ghanaians if given the opportunity to make their Nations’ Cup debuts.”

Abubakar is also of the strong conviction that with the able ability of Stars’ head coach, James Kwesi Appiah, the Stars were poised to clinch yet another Nations’ Cup glory to end the long awaited 5th title.

“Looking at the way Appiah has managed the team ever since his appointment and performance tells me that he is on the right track to quench Ghana’s long drought in the Nations’ Cup over the past three decades, and I strongly believe that with commitment from the playing body, the team can win the nation’s cup this time round,” he confidently said.

The Black stars of Ghana will start their 2013 campaign against DR Congo on January 20th before coming up against Mali and Niger to round up the group stage of the competition.