Tawrik Djibril furious at Satellites omission

Teenage sensation Tawrik Djibril will not forgive Ghanaian football authorities if he does not make the Satellites squad for the U-20 FIFA World Cup. Tawrik has been omitted from a provisional list of 24 players released by Satellites coach Sellas Tetteh in readiness for the tournament which kicks off in Egypt on September 24. All after the Hearts of Oak dribbling prodigy’s invitation to the Satellites’ camp recently having never been part of the team.

According to the GFA, Tawrik is ineligible for selection for Egypt 2009 because his name was not part of an original list of 30 players submitted to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) back in March. But Prince Omar Ibrahim, Manager of Tawrik Djibril debunks such suggestions maintaining that his own enquiries indicate that there is no such FIFA stipulation. Mr. Ibrahim can’t identify them, but believes some top dogs at the football association are not telling the truth.

Tawrik Djibril burst unto the local terrain barely two years ago at the tender age of 16. His talent and potential has since won over the conviction of many a Ghanaian football connoisseur, most anointing him to be the next Abedi Pele. After travelling abroad for stints with Spanish side Athletico Madrid and Portsmouth of the Englsih Premiership, albeit unsuccessful due to cash disagreement, Tawrik came back to cement his key role at Hearts of Oak. One Match day after another, Djibril regularly led from the front for Hearts powering them to the Glo Premier League crown at just 18 years.

And it is his age which makes the decision to axe him from the 2009 Ghana U-20 sadder for Tawrik Djibril. The player’s Manager says Tawrik who plays professional football with his real age, will not qualify to play for the Black Satellites again if he misses this year’s cut. Born on 5th January 1991, Tawrik Djibril turns 20 in the first month of 2011 and definitely will be over-aged for the U-20 tournament of that year. Tawrik who also has not played for Ghana at U-17 level, will thus not play youth football for his country even though he has been hailed as the most talented teenager since Nii Odartey Lamptey.

Tawrik though believes he will still receive the call to join Sellas Tetteh’s team. He has not given up even though his disappointment is at its uppermost limit, even refusing to pick phone calls from his manager. But Mr. Prince Omar Ibrahim believes Djibril will come out of this situation a stronger player and person, no matter what final decision Sellas Tetteh takes.

“Tawrik has been with me for more than ten years and I know that he is mentally very strong. Once he gets unto the football field, he forgets about all problems. So expect him to do well for Hearts even if he does not realise the dream to play for the Satellites,” Omar Ibrahim said.

Tawrik meanwhile played for Hearts of Oak in their 2-1 win against Heart of Lions yesterday at the Ohene Djan in the opening match of the MTN Top 4 soccer tournament.