Dramani seals Kuban move

Ghana international winger Haminu Dramani has joined Russian Premier League campaigners Kuban Krasnodar on loan until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old opted for the move from giants Lokomotiv Moscow to enhance his first team playing opportunities.

Kuban coaches have assured Dramani of playing time thus enhancing his place in the national team, the Black Stars.

Dramani fell out of favour with the coaches at Lokomotiv after openly seeking a move to the English side Stoke City in August last year.

Even though Lokomotiv agreed for the youngster to train with Stoke, they pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute only to consign the Ghanaian to the bench.

Dramani, who is keen on first team playing time, pressed for a loan move to enhance his place in the Ghana national team but Lokomotiv reluctantly agreed the move to Kuban.

"I only wanted to play first team football and regardless of what the club thinks I wanted insisted on the move to Kuban," Dramani told Ghanasoccernet.com.

"I am young and the only way to improve myself for the national team is to play and not to sit on the bench.

"This move will help me keep my fitness level and also keep the interest from clubs who have been observing me."

Stoke City were on the verge of completing a loan deal for the Ghana international when Lokomitiv quoted astronomical figures to dissuade the English club.

The winger trained with City's first-team squad and impressed coach Tony Pulis after the club observed him in the summer.

Dramani's previous ports of call include Red Star Belgrade and leading Turkish outfit Genclerbirligi, impressing sufficiently to attract a £3m bid from Lokomotiv on a four-year contract 12 months ago.

He made his international debut at the age of 19 and has since played nearly 30 times for the west African state, including a goalscoring appearance against the United States in the World Cup finals in Germany two years ago.

He further cemented his reputation and popularity in his homeland by impressing against Brazil 18 months ago before being red-carded in the closing stages of a 1-0 defeat.