Ghanaian player sparkle in Western Australia

JOSHUA TUMOE- an emerging talent discovered in Western Australia

Ghana abounds in so many talents scattered around the footballing world. Some have been famous and are really known in global football, whilst others have been under the spotlight despite their immense talent, ostensibly due to their location of trade. In Australia, a country endowed with various sporting activities such as Cricket, Rugby, baseball, horse racing other than the number one sport football, come a certain Joshua Mani Tumoe, a Ghanaian footballer who has endeared himself in the Western Australia Premier league.

The super talented Joshua Tumoe whose Ghanaian name is Emmanuel Agyapong is a cult figure in the Western Australian league due to his tantalizing and immaculate skills which has caught many spell bound. With power in both feet, Joshua is a very skillful player who takes on opposing defenders with cheeky ease in his favourite no. 10 position.

Born to Ghanaian parents, the offensive midfielder left Ghana at the early stages of his career to Australia and currently holds an Australian passport. Back in the day, he played for Hearts Babies and Rosayle in Buduburam Camp, where he was living with his adopted Sierra Leonean parents. He later had a brief trial with FC Nania who were then embarking on a sojourn in Europe. Joshua recalled vividly that Jordan Ayew, the Sochaux arrowhead, was then part of the team. However, Joshua couldn’t made the trip with Nania after making the grade, as he had an invitation to travel to Australia where the story has been one of a success.

Joshua’s Australian football career has taken him to clubs such as Coss Tigers, Perth Glory Youth and Queens Park Fc . It is also worth noting that he had a six month spell with German division four side Fc Adler Meindorf. However, the highlight of his career was when he joined Bayswater City in the Western Premier league and immediately became an instant hit during his debut season at the elite stage. No wonder, it took Stirling Lions a mouth watering deal to pluck him into their fold in 2010. Ever since it has been a success story with the Ghanaian playing an immense role in the Sterling based club conquest of the Premiership in 2013, their first league title in 18 years.

Due to his immense popularity, it is the wish of many that he leaves Australia to play in Europe where the platform is big. Such is the expectations of his fans, an assertion he agrees intoto. ‘‘Yeah I have to move to a bigger league and Europe is not far from ideal. It is a big platform to showcase my talent to the rest of the World and I am looking forward to the opportunity.’’

He recalled receiving so many offers in Asia but has turned down those offers, stressing his dream his Europe after that brief stint in Germany.

On the international front, Joshua is yet to be capped. He got an invitation to train with the Australian national team but did not feature due to an injury. Like any other Ghanaian player, his biggest dream is to play for the Ghana Black Stars one day. He however believes it will take a dint of hard work to get there.

Interestingly, Joshua has had a feel of the Ghana national jersey, wearing a replica in the Perth African Nations Cup. The Western Australian Nations Cup is an annual affair played between players from various African countries and is organized by the football association. Players are selected from the various Premier and A division clubs to represent their country of birth.

The recent tournament which ended two weeks ago saw Sudan beating Ghana 3-1 in extra time at the Wanneroo City Soccer Club stadia. Joshua however emerged the overall best player of the tournament despite missing the grand finals due to red card suspension.

Great talent by all standard and he will blossom to stardom big time, if he gets a good chance to play in Europe. ‘‘The low publicity of the Western Australian Premier league has somehow overshadowed this talented player. I bet on him to make it to the top,’’ Rob Milevski the coach of Stirling opined.

Source: Frank Ampadu (Perth, Western Australia)

Photo caption

League champions Stirling Fc in a memorable pose with Joshua Tumoe sitting in the front row (far left)

The playmaker poses with some of his (MVP) Awards and medals he won in recent times.

Joshua in action for his former club Bayswater City

Joshua Tumoe (standing 5th from left) as the Ghana team poses for the Perth African Nations Cup