Hertha Berlin rejects K. Essien

KWEKU Essien, 23 left the Hertha Berlin training camp in Stegersbach in Austria after playing just one match which he failed to impress the Hertha Berlin hierarchy. Reports monitored from Germany where he underwent the trials indicates that Coach Lucien Favre had originally planned to carry on watching him after the recent 0-0 friendly draw against a Croatian first division side, NK Rijeka. But after consulting with the Hertha Berlin manager Dieter Hoeneb, the duo decided to end his loan spell.

Essien, who is on the books of new Premiership entrants Kessben FC and was recently honoured as the Best Player at the GFA/PBL Awards ceremony in Accra, was hopeful of securing a contract with the Bundesliga campaigners but it seems that might not materialize after all. Hertha were in the market for a top rated midfielder after their German born Ghanaian midfielder, Kevin Prince Boateng attracted offers from Sevilla in the Spanish La Liga and Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premiership.

But Essien, who said as much as he would have loved to stay in Ghana for at least a season but “the enticement fees from Europe and other places are too rewarding to ignore" had to leave unceremoniously to join the Black Meteors team in Algeria. Hertha, who were scheduled to play English Premiership side Middlesbrough yesterday are yet to finalise the deal to take Kevin Prince Boateng to Tottenham paving the way for any deal to bring in another player.

Kweku Essien is however determined to put the latest setback behind him. “I'm determined to move further in professional football and I'm ever ready to move forward for greener pastures, depending on the directives of my manager, Alhaji Bimbo", he said.