GFA in touch with Gerald Asamoah

Accra (Greater Accra) - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is in touch with Ghanaian soccer international, Gerald Asamoah, to beef-up the attacking machinery of the Black Stars in their 2002 World Cup campaign.

Alhaji M. N. D. Jawula, Chairman of the GFA, told the GNA in an interview in Accra on Monday that he had opened discussions with the Karlsruhe player and expressed the hope that the final decision on the player's willingness to feature for the Stars would be known on his arrival in the country later this month.

Alhaji Jawula said skipper C. K. Akunnor and his deputy Samuel Osei Kuffour have also spoken to the player in a bid to make him rescind his earlier decision of not playing for the country but for Germany.

Gerald Asamoah, apparently angered after Italian Coach Giusseppe Dossena failed to feature him in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Eritrea last year, subsequently decided to opt for German citizenship.

"I personally spoke with him last Friday and I will call him again this evening, to create the necessary rapport," Alhaji Jawula said, adding that Emmanuel Duah, who plays for Portuguese club Uniao Leira, would also be contacted because he is in top shape.

On the issue of forming a local Black Stars, the Chairman said, "we want the best for the country, it does not really matter whether the player plays at home or abroad. The strength of the Black Stars lies with the quality of players and not where they play."

Alhaji Jawula was optimistic that for once, the Black Stars will make it to the Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup.

Ghana is grouped alongside Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan and plays the first match on July 9, in Sierra Leone. The top team qualifies for the World Cup.