...with Champions League
Former Ghanaian U-23 forward, Joetex Frimpong, has declared that he intends to make a return to the Ghanaian National Team, the Black Stars by contributing his quota to the success of his Nigerian team, Enyimba, in their quest to win the 2004 MTN CAF Champions League at the expense of Tunisia?s Etoile du Sahel for the second time.
Joetex, who has been ignored since the exit of former German-born national team manager, Burkhard Ziese believes the final of Africa?s biggest club championship is the right opportunity to get more recognition at home.
?As the only Ghanaian left in this competition, which is the biggest in the continent, I have resolved to be at my best for my Nigerian club. Some of my teammates like Vincent Enyeama and Obinna Nwaneri are Nigerian internationals, while the duo of Muri Ogunbiyi and Jonas Oketola also play for the Republic of Benin. So, the stage is set for me to earn a place in the Black Stars. But I know that I have to convince the new handlers of the national team,? he declared.
The Ghanaian, who is not new to the Ghana Football Association, said some of his colleagues in Enyimba even wonder why he is yet to be invited to the Black Stars.
Joetex earned his first U-23 cap under Ziese, who subsequently drafted him to the Black Stars before their last Tunisia 2004 Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali, last year. The Enyimba forward played in the two-legged qualifier against Liberia with a goal for his efforts.
When asked to speak about his experience at the Black Meteors and Black Stars camp, Joetex replied: ?I had a nice outing with all the players. In fact, playing in Kumasi and Accra was emotional and wearing the Ghanaian colours for the first time was something I had always prayed for since I started playing football on the streets in Kumasi before moving to Nigeria where I made my debut in club football.?
The forward scored six goals in last year?s campaign as Enyimba won the Champions League and also helped his Nigerian side win the African Super Cup in January.