Stars hold first training session

Accra, March 23, GNA - Ghana's Black Stars have undertaking their first training session ahead of Sunday's crucial Group "D" 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations against Benin.

Only 11 of the 22-member squad were present at the session held on Monday afternoon at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra under the instructions of head coach Milovan Rajevac.

The players at training included six foreign-based ones, made up of Jonathan Quartey (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Jonathan Mensah (Free State Stars, South Africa), Samuel Yeboah (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), John Paintsil (Fulham, England), Nana Akwasi Asare (KV Mechelen, Belgium) and Moussa Narry (Auxerre, France).

The local component includes Philemon MacCarthy (Hearts of Oak), Harrison Afful (Fetteh Feyenoord), Samuel Inkoom (Asante Kotoko), Rahim Ayew (Eleven Wise) and Daniel Yeboah (Heart of Lions).

The session lasted for more than 30 minutes as Coach Rajevac and his charges tried out some tactics ahead of the crucial match.

A source close to the Stars technical team hinted GNA Sports Stars that captain Stephen Appiah and the rest are expected by the close of Monday

The Stars are expected to leave for Kumasi on Thursday where they will continue with their warm up training ahead of the match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, the venue of the match 0n Sunday, March 29. The Stars will also play Mali and Sudan in the final round qualifiers for the first World Cup to be staged on African soil, come 2010 in South Africa.