Ghana Lines Up Six Pros for Cranes Clash

Ghana's Black Stars who take on Cranes in the Africa Nations Cup 2004 qualifier early September, flew to Turkey yesterday for a series of build-ups before heading to Greece.

The Black Stars under Yugoslav coach Millan Zivadinovic plan to have a series of build-ups before flying back to Accra and connect to Kampala.

Information from the West African state indicates that the four time Nations Cup winners are coming to Kampala with six foreign-based players for the Sept. 7 crucial game.

Coach Zivadinovic expects to enlist the services of Stephen Appiah (Brescia, Italy), Derek Boateng (Panathinaikos, Greece), John Mensah (Chievo, Italy), Michael Essien (Bastia, Italy), Otto Addo who plays in Germany and Razak Ibrahim who features for French second division side St. Ettiene.

The Cranes team under Coach Paul Edwin Hasule have also played a number of international build-up games.

The Black Stars have also lined-up friendly ties in Turkey and Greece.

The Black Stars' training camp will however miss some local players like Charles Taylor of Hearts of Oak and the duo from Kotoko; Osei Boateng and Hamza Mohammed due to club commitments.

Meanwhile, FUFA have picked Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium for the Cranes game against Ghana. Federation General Secretary, Haruna Mawanda, told The Monitor that they made the decision, Aug. 19.

"Because of technical reasons since our players feel more comfortable playing in Nakivubo than Namboole, we shall have the game played in Nakivubo," he said.

Interestingly, Cranes last game in the Nations Cup 2002 qualifier played at the same venue saw the home side fall 3-0 to Togo.

When asked to comment about FUFA's decision last year that put all big international matches in the modern Namboole Stadium, Mawanda said the technical people simply preferred Nakivubo.

Mawanda said they will come out with the entry charges today.

"We still expect government to come and give us a hand in this game," he said.

FUFA needs about Shs 40m for the Ghana game. After the game with Ghana, the national side which last made an appearance in the finals in 1978 will play perennial rivals Rwanda.