Black Stars first choice goalkeeper, Richard ‘Oleley’ Kingson has called on Ghanaian soccer fans to put behind them the 5-0 thrashing by Saudi Arabia in an international friendly game played in Riyadh last Tuesday and extend to the team the kind of support it enjoyed during the 2006 World Cup.

Admitting that all did not go well for the team especially ahead of their game against Saudi Arabia, the Birmingham City goalkeeper rubbished rumor making rounds in some section of the Ghanaian media that the Black Stars team engaged themselves in a match of convenience with their Saudi Arabian counterparts.

He questioned how on earth players of their calibre will engage themselves in a match of convenience having in mind that the entire African continent and beyond will be following every step the team takes especially when they have made it known to the rest of Africa that come what may, they will clinch their fifth African title when the country hosts the biannual African soccer fiesta.

According to Kingson, even after conceding the two goals in the first half, almost every member of the team were in high spirits of carrying the day when in the dressing room, they each assured themselves of ending the game with nothing apart from total victory.

According to Kingson, one major problem that contributed to their defeat last Tuesday was as a result of jet-lag, emphasizing also that fatigue played greater part in their loss last Tuesday, something which he claimed officials led by GFA President, Kwasi Nyantakyi and his vice, Fred Pappoe, sincerely apologized to each member of the team for and promised to ensure that nothing of that sort happens in future engagement

He said “Personally, I think fatigue played a greater part in our defeat last Tuesday, since the team had to stay in France for a longer period after our game against the Atlas Lions of Morocco three days earlier, only to arrive in Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, the match day some few hours to the game”

“But let me emphasize that, I was very pleased when officials accepted that they played greater part of our defeat by allowing the team to stay longer in France after our first game” he added.

The former Accra Great Olympic goalie added that “For now, I will like to plead for forgiveness on behalf of my colleagues because I happen to be the most senior player among the team, though I was not bearing the captain’s band”.

For now, I think every soccer-loving Ghanaian needs to put that painful 5-0 defeat behind them and extend to the team the kind of support it enjoyed during our participation in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

“I think everybody needs to put what has happened behind them and grant the team the needed support since it is through such marriage that the team can lift the trophy on home soil come next year” he added.

However, the former Galatasaray goalkeeper added his voice to that of many Ghanaian soccer fans about the inclusion of some other experienced players to strengthen the team ahead of next year’s African Championship.

“What I can tell you for sure is that we are definitely winning the next Cup of Nations but officials need to include one or two experience players to strengthen the side” he added.

If the likes of Tunisia and Egypt were able to win the trophy on home soil, then why cannot we do same, he questioned.