I have had the opportunity of watching some live Black Stars games and have been impressed with some of the stars we have seen and produced in the nation. From the days of the great Abdul Razak , Mohammed Polo through to the likes of Abedi Pele and Michael Essien, one can be very happy with the quality of players our nation has produced and still producing.
Ironically, most of our locally produced players have gone on to do very well for our national teams than the ones born or raised abroad and invited to our national teams, names like Kim Grant and Charles Whittle readily comes to mind though Tony Baffoe was an exception. Unfortunately, it looks like our football authorities are quick to invite players of Ghanaian decent born or raised abroad once they hear a little news about them (for example, Welbeck of Manchester United where as the likes of our up and coming local stars struggle to hit the lime-light.
I have been following the local games with keen interest especially in the Twin City of Ghana and one player that has really caught my attention is this multi-talented young midfield star JOE ATO BISSAH ‘Zola’ of Sekondi Hasaacas.
He is naturally right footed but can use both feet excellently. At first I taught he was a left footed player when he scored a 20-yard volley with his left foot against Accra Hearts of Oak last season. His partnership with David Anas ensured Hasaacas stayed in the Premier league.
He plays in attacking midfield position but can be very effective on the flanks. By far he is Sekondi Hasaacas best player at the moment following the trail set by Tony “Pablo” Annan who moved on to Accra Hearts of Oak before moving on to Norway, needless to say that Tony was a revelation during the CAN 2008, did he get any special mention during his days with Hasmal? Bissah gets lots of goals from midfield and can be very good in defensive play as well. Suffice to say he is currently one of the technically gifted players in the nation.
Although there have been several interests from other clubs like Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak following an excellent season last year, he has signed an extension to his contract at Hasaacas and keeps delivering the goods for them.
I was surprised not seeing him in the helpless starlets of 2008, the current U-21 or local black stars but I hope and strongly believe that he shall soon fall on the radar of our national team coaches.
Ghana has lost some key players already, the likes of Marcel Desailly and Freddie Adu to mention a few and it is my hope that the right crop of players are spotted early enough to help curtail the mass exodus of our football rising stars.
Thank you.
by Kweku Afful (a.k.a Dr. Objective)
Credits: Wilfred Essel-Ackom (Papa Willis) Loughborough University, UK. (Msc Sport and leisure Management) Sports Consultants. Email: [dr.objective@yahoo.co.uk]
