Story: Maurice Quansah & Eric Enchill

October 3 2000 - AFTER all the earlier uncertainties, promises and reneges the stage will be set this Sunday for Ghanaians to see Bundesliga striker Gerald Asamoah make his international debut with the Black Stars.

Pleasantly, Gerald Asamoah's baptism into Ghanaian and international football weaves into one of the grandest of football stages where a talent-studded Black Stars encounter the might of Zimbabwe.

Curiously, three of the Black Stars, core professionals-Skipper C.K. Akunnor, deputy Samuel Osei Kuffuor and defender Sam Johnson who had earlier threatened a boycott following the Dossena controversy, have had a change of mind and will be in action alongside Asamoah.

The Germany-based player who threatened to quit the national team appeared destined to become the first black player to play in the German national team after obtaining a German passport recently. However, the uncertainty over his allegiance was cleared when he requested for a ticket and gave a firm commitment to play against Zimbabwe.

Apart from Asamoah, Ghanaians are also likely to see the man who will take over the reins of the national team after Sunday's game.

Rainer Bonhof, the man who takes over from stand-in coach, Fred Osam-Duodu is expected to fly in from Germany on Thursday to observe the players he would work with at first hand.

Skipper C.K. Akonnor, CharlesAmoah, and Richard Kingston are already in town while 10 others are expected to arrive with the Dutch Airlines, KLM tonight.

The General Secretary of the GFA, Worlanyo Agrah yesterday confirmed that tickets had already been dispatched to all the players who all expected to assemble by Thursday from their bases.

Sunday's team will be formed around the team which thrashed Sierra Leone 5-1 in a World Cup qualifier at the Accra Stadium last July.

They include Yaw Preko, Otto Addo, Stephen Baidoo, Stephen Appiah, Alex Nyarko, Emmanuel Duah, Mark Edusei.

The eight home-based members of the team are already in camp going through various drills under the watchful eyes of Osam-Duodu.

They are Constant Mantey, Kofi Amoako, Nana Arhin Duah, Stephen Tetteh, Jacob Nettey, Amankwah Mireku, Emmanuel Copson, and Isaac Owusu.

The positive response of the players confirms the importance of the match as Zimbabwe presents a formidable opposition for the Ghanaians, having already jumped into pole position in the qualifying competition after defeating DR Congo.

Ghana could only manage a hard-fought 3-3 draw with Lesotho in Maseru on September 3.

The Warrior's last visit to Accra dates back to 1997 when they lost 2-1 to the Stars in the qualifiers for the 1998 Nations Cup, after both sides had earlier settled for a scoreless draw in Harare.

The team, led by England-based Peter Ndlovu are enjoying a new lease of life after beating Lesotho to win the Cosafa Cup, Southern African championship in August.

Their 25-man squad for Sunday's encounter includes Robson Chisango, William Mugeyi, most of whom play in South Africa's premier league and at home.