Coach Ziese holds meeting with foreign players

Bukhard Ziese head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars on Monday held a meeting with a number of foreign players currently on holidays in the country. The meeting, which was held at the secretariat of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) had eight out of the 28 players invited in attendance.

Among the players present were, Stephen Appiah, Samuel Osei-Kuffour, John Painstil, Razak Ibrahim, Derek Boateng, Baffour Gyan and Ishmeal Addo.

Speaking to the GNA Sports, coach Ziese, said the focus of the discussion was on the impending national assignments and other general issues.

STARS CONFIDENT OF UGANDA HURDLE

Three members of Ghana's foreign-based players invited into the camp of the senior national team, Black Stars, namely Ishmael Addo, John Paintsil and Razak Ibrahim have expressed optimism about the ability of the Black Stars to make it to the next Nations Cup in spite of the challenges confronting them.

The Stars must play Uganda and Rwanda in Accra and Kigali respectively and must win both matches to make that dream possible; a rather daunting task but the three stars say they are prepared to contribute their quota to see their motherland claim all six points.

Far from being nationalist boasts and therefore unrealistic fanatical confidence, the three players who spoke to the Soccer Express in separate interviews at the offices of the FA yesterday when they honoured an invitation by head coach Burkhard Ziese for a short meeting gave varying reasons why the Stars will not fail.

Said Ishmael, 'This is our motherland and there is no reason why we should not die for her. We have to win the games and that is what all of us here are talking about. It is a must and even though this is a game of football, I am sure we can win if we want to.'

Asked what has so motivated his confidence, the free-scoring prodigy said for his part he is very determined and focused and hopes all his colleagues are in with the same seriousness.

The dribbler Razak Ibrahim, who expressed doubts about his ability to feature in any immediate game for the stars owing to an injury, said the games are what everybody in the Stars shortlist is talking about and everybody is desirous that Ghana triumphs.

'It is our chance to win these games and go out there with the best in the world and I am sure we will win the games.

For Paintsil, the Stars home win over Rwanda a couple of months ago under then coach, E. K. Afranie during which the fans expressed misgivings about a so-called unconvincing win comes as a ready reminder for a more resolute campaign in the remaining matches.

'I remember the fans were even booing and jeering at us on that occasion and for me what it means is that we are going to be more convincing. In our meeting with the coach (Burkhard) you could tell he meant business and so are we the players. We have vowed that whoever is featured must die for the nation, we cannot continue to put our World Cup dreams on hold and this is the time to make it. What I will ask of the fans are their constant prayers. They should remember us all in their prayers and I hope God will see us through', said Paintsil.

The players' response to Burkhard's invitation looked quite promising as by midday about a third of the foreign-based invited players had reported at the FA offices in honour of the invitation.

Over the weekend, Rwanda threw a big relief to Ghana when they pipped the Cranes of Uganda by a lone goal in Kampala to throw wide-open chances for qualification. Ghana still lies at the bottom of the three-nation group with three points but with a clearer chance than previously.