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Soccer News of Monday, 19 August 2002

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Stars Captain To Miss Greek Exercise

The nation's build to her first game of the 2004 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Uganda appears now to be on course after last week?s setback, which stopped the team?s travel to Greece for preparations.

Though Stars new coach, Millan Zivadinovic had left ahead of the team to prepare the grounds, traveling arrangement could not be completed as the processing of documents for the team failed.

Now, Millan, who has missed some days of training with his team as planned earlier would get his boys to work on Wednesday as the team departs Accra Tuesday. But Millan is not expected to get the services of Black Stars captain; Stephen Appiah, who sources at his Italian club, Brescia, say would not be available for the training camp in Greece.

Another important aspect missed by Millan is a friendly, which was supposed to have been played Tuesday with a Greek team. Millan would however miss some locally based players, because of club commitments; among them are Charles Taylor of Hearts of Oak and the duo from Kotoko; Osei Boateng and Hamza Mohammed.

From Hearts of Oak, he would have goalkeeper Sammy Adjei and Edmund Copson, Asante Kotoko?s duo of reserve goalkeeper George Owu and Joseph Hendricks.

Liberty Professionals trio of captain Emmanuel Pappoe, John Painstil and Daniel Yeboah would be joining the team. Mohammed Polo from Dawu Youngsters, Paa Joe Kumah of Great Olympics, Solomon Laryea from Obuasi Goldfields and Hasaacas? Felix Yeboah are all expected to make the trip.

The surprise inclusion is a player from division one club, Hearts of Lions. Delight Afenyo?s skill in Hearts of Lions? friendly match against Hearts of Oak has attracted Millan as the division one player is to earn his first cap for Ghana.

From the foreign front, players expected to join their local colleagues are, Derek Boateng of Panathinaikos in Greece, John Mensah of Italian side Chievo, Michael Essien of Bastia and Razak Ibrahim of French second division side St. Ettiene.

German based, Otto Addo is also included in the list of foreign players. The team would return to Accra before emplaning for Kampala for the match on 8th September.