Boakye Happy to join Squad

Dutch Premier League side Heraclaf Almelo midfield dynamo, Emmanuel Kwame Agyemang Boakye has stated that been named in the squad of the national Under-23 soccer side, the Black Meteor, for next month?s Olympic qualifier in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, is a dream come true.

In a telephone interview from his Holland base yesterday, Boakye who appears to be the new king of Dutch soccer due to his impressive performances in the Dutch Premier League this season, said it has been his dream since childhood to don the national colours and demonstrate to Ghanaians what he knows best and thanks God that the opportunity has finally come for him to prove that.

Having featured in almost all matches played by his club this season, the young Ghanaian international appears to be most expatriate player who enjoys massive media coverage due to his high standard of play.

According to investigations conducted last month, officials of the Dutch Football Federation had planned to have talks with young Boakye to have him change his nationality in order to feature for the country?s Olympic soccer team, an issue which gave the player sleepless night after hearing the information.

According Boakye who also feature for former European Champions Ajax Amsterdam from the 1999-2005 soccer season where he became the toast of many Dutch fans before joining Heraclaf Almelo, there are several Ghanaian talents in Europe who are willing to come to their homeland and offer their service but often feels neglected when they do not get called.

He therefore praised officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the technical handlers of the Black Meteors for extending him the invitation and said it is now up to him to perform well in order to pave way for other players to also get call-ups.

?For now, its up to me to prove myself when I join my colleagues next month for the qualifier against Burkina Faso and not just that but to help qualify the team to the 2007 Olympics in China? he said.

Watching Boakye play in the Dutch League and it appears he is a replica of Black Stars and Chelsea?s midfield dynamo Michael Kobina Essien due to his strength, confidence and aggressiveness during play. He is a fast player who has a wealth of skills, talent and experience.

This was how the player was described by one of the sporting journal after his side?s goalless drawn game last week ?the Ghanaian international has since the beginning of the season proved to be a very fast and strong player when on the ball, he is an excellent player by all standards with great energy and massive concentration during matches. On most occasions, Boakye provided the forwards with some excellent passes which they often failed to utilize? one sports paper wrote about him.

The Black Meteors, who are handled by year 2000 African best coach, Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio and assisted by Coach J.E Sarpong, will on February 7 come face-to-face with Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou for the first leg of the Olympic qualifier which has three tickets to be grabbed by the continent. Others foreign who will be makng the list are Yao Kumordzi, Prince Tagoe, Haminu Dramani, Asamoah Gyan and others.