Kuffuor Strikes Big Deal In Saudi Arabia

AFTER several failed bids to land a contract to play professional football outside, Ghana’s Footballer of the Year, Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor may have eventually hit his luck in Saudi Arabia.

The ace Hearts of Oak and Black Stars striker, who left Ghana last week to further his professional pursuit in the oil-rich emirate, is said to be on his way to riches.

According to reports reaching the Graphic Sports from Saudi Arabia, the versatile player has landed a $700,000 contract to play football in that country.

The reports said Kuffuor who went in the company of Mr Jones Alhassan-Abu, a knowledgeable consultant in contractual matters with wide connections across the world, and especially in the emirates, is determined to make the Saudi bid his final destination.

But contrary to Osei Kuffuor’s expectations, his overseas manager is said not to be enthused at all by the Saudi deal.

The overseas manager, Dr Sam Amporful, based in the United States, has reportedly expressed his dissatisfaction at the deal which falls far below the $1 million tag he has placed on the head of the Ghanaian gem.

It is believed that the $700,000 contract would come as a big loss to the overseas manager who has invested colossal sums in salaries and medical care in Osei Kuffuor’s soccer career.

Dr. Amporful is believed to be paying Osei Kuffuor a $1,000 monthly salary and other commitments in anticipation of a big transfer wind fall.

This arrangement between the player and the overseas manager apparently has been under the blessing of the management of Hearts, who recently allowed Kuffuor to travel to the United States to have a surgery performed on h is ankle after the player reportedly failed a trial in Moscow because it was detected he had a stone locked in the ankle.

However, sources close to the Hearts management could neither confirm nor deny the new Saudi deal, but said they were only waiting for the return of Mr Alhassan Abu and Osei Kuffuor.

Dr Amporful, on the otherhand could not be immediately reached for his comments.