Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Fred Pappoe has assured the nation that Laryea Kingston will feature for the Black Stars in the Ghana 2008 tournament which kicks-off on January 20, 2007 in Accra.

He explained that Kingston was gradually recovering from his injury and was prepared to die for his motherland.

Mr Pappoe, who doubles as Management Committee Chairman of the Black Stars, made these remarks in a telephone interview with DAILY GUIDE SPORTS.

He intimated that half of the number Coach Claude Leroy made available to management had left for the training base, while the rest would join them from their European bases.

Twelve out of the 26-man Black Stars squad left the shores of Accra on Wednesday evening, together with administrative personnel, aboard an Emirates Airline to the Gulf region of Dubai for a pre-Nations Cup training camp.

Led by Deputy Team Captain John Mensah, the squad included Haminu Dramani, Laryea Kingston, Matthew Amoah, Daniel Opare, Anthony Annan and Asamoah Gyan.

The rest were Alhassan Illiasu, Baffour Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Fatau Dauda and Ahmed Barrusso.

The 12 would be joined later in the week by Harrison Afful of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, who was expected to leave Accra after playing in a domestic league game on Wednesday for his local side.

At the departure hall of the Kotoka International Airport on Wednesday, the three locally-based stars of the team commented on the all-important national assignment.

Goalkeeper Fatau Dauda said even though the team could boast of two world class goalkeepers in the persons of Richard Kingson and his deputy Sammy Adjei, when given the chance, he would make the nation proud.

Udinese-bound Kwadwo Asamoah on his part emphasised that he would do his best to justify the confidence Coach Le Roy had reposed in him.

Daniel Opare observed that it was the wish of every player, whether young or old, to feature for his country, stressing that the bench of every team was as important as the first eleven.

As hosts, the Black Stars would be looking forward to lifting the continental trophy for a record fifth time.