Le Roy drafts in six new players

..Barusso & Kumordzi IN
Black Stars coach, Claude Le Roy has drafted six additional players into the senior side for Ghana’s August 21 international friendly against Senegal.

Out of the six, five are members of the Olympic team, the Black Meteors. This is the maiden call up for three of the new additions into the Black Stars.

Ahmed Apimah Barusso together with Isaac Vorsah and Sadat Bukari all receive their debut call ups.

The remaining new invitees are Michael Helegbe, Anthony Annan and Bernard Yao Kumordzi, who all earned their first calls ups during Ghana’s two-game friendly series against Austria and Brazil in March have once again received invitations from Claude Le Roy.

According to FA Vice President, Fred Pappoe, apart from filling in the gaps when pull outs occur as a result of injuries in the run up to the game, the move to make additions would serve to create team bonding amongst the players and all involved with the national team.

Claude Le Roy on Tuesday has named an initial 20-man squad for the game that comes up in London at the New Den, the home ground of English League side Millwall.

Ghana’s meet with the Senegalese would be the second time both West African nations are meeting in London after drawing goalless in a similar exercise last year prior to the Black Stars’ debut at the World Cup.

The game against the Teranga Lions forms part of the Black Stars’ preparation towards the African Cup of Nations in 2008.

Ghana, by virtue of being host of the 2008 African Cup of Nations finals would not be playing any competitive match until January 2008, when the tournament kicks off in Accra.

Ghana squad:

Goalkeepers: Sammy Adjei (Mohadon Sports Ashdod, Israel), Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England)

Defenders: Hans Adu Sarpie (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), John Paintsil (West Ham, England), Francis Dickoh (FC Utrecht, Holland), Illiasu Alhassan (Saturn FC, Russia) John Mensah (Rennes, France) Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland) Yahaya Mohammed (Nice, France), Isaac Vorsah (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)

Midfielders: Stephen Appiah (Fenerbache, Turkey) Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland) Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England) Haminu Draman (Lokomotiv Moskva, Russia) Andre Ayew ( Marseille, France) Michael Helegbe (Guimgamp, France), Bernard Yao Kumordzi (Panionios, Greece) Anthony Annan (IK Start, Norway) Ahmed Apimah Barusso (AS Roma, Italy)

Forwards: Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Mario Barwuah (Inter Milan, Italy) Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy) Joe Tex Frimpong (BSC Young Boys, Switzerland) and Razak Pimpong (Viking, Norway), Sadat Bukari (Etoile Sahel, Tunisia)