Kingston to skip CAN'08 camp?

LARYEA KINGSTON last night insisted he is willing to incur the wrath of Ghana to keep his club, Hearts, in with a chance of the Scottish Premier League(SPL) title.

The black stars playmaker is set to miss seven weeks of the campaign when he jets out for the African Nations Cup finals in January.

Ghana are hosting the month-long event and coach Claude Le Roy wants players such as Kingston and Chelsea's Michael Essien back three weeks in advance for a training camp.

The tournament means everything to the Hearts midfielder's homeland but the player says he is willing to disrupt Le Roy's preparations and anger the public in his homeland by staying at Tynecastle until the eve of the competition.

Kingston said: "That's the problem for me now because I want to play in every game between now and the end of the season for Hearts.

"The really unfortunate thing is that the African Cup of Nations is right in the middle of our campaign.

"I'm still talking to my national manager to see if he will let me stay here for longer and play more games for Hearts.

"The tournament starts on January 20 and I would hope to join the Ghana squad maybe just four days before. I promise him I would be fit and ready.

"The tournament lasts at least one month and the squad is supposed to meet up two or three weeks before that. You are talking about seven weeks and that's a lot.

"It would be better to be with Hearts and playing competitive matches rather than being in a training camp. I think they will understand that. They have said they will get back to me and I'm hopeful.

"It's going to be a very big challenge for us because the last two host nations have won it. We have to do everything possible to try and lift the cup but that will be very difficult.

"There is pressure on the manager and he wants the squad together as early as possible but for me it would be better to stay with Hearts.

"I would think there are other players in the same position. Those who are not regulars for their clubs might be okay but me, Michael, John Mensah and Sulley Muntari are all in the same boat.

"If all of the manager's best players were away then he would find it difficult but I want to stay here for longer."

Kingston wants to maintain continuity and assist the Jambos in their quest to make a surprise tilt for the SPL flag.

Despite an inconsistent start to the campaign, Kingston is adamant the Tynecastle side can still fight the Old Firm for the championship.

He said: "There are a lot of games left before the end of the season and we have quite a good squad now.

"Everybody is working hard and it's just unfortunate that we didn't start so well but we still have hope that we can catch up at the top.


"Some teams start well, some teams finish well. It doesn't matter. What matters is the final position in the league.


"We are eight points from the top just now and I think it would be quite easy for us to catch up with the leaders.


"It's up to us to keep building our confidence by keep taking three points from each game.

"The team spirit has improved a lot and that's very good. It was down at the beginning of the season but we've changed it.


"When I was at Lokomotiv Moscow we were together after every game.


"We would go to the players lounge and spend time with team-mates and family and I think that could work here at Tynecastle.


"Steve Banks told us after one game to all meet in the players lounge and there is no doubt it's a good idea."