Black Stars off to US tonight
Black Stars skipper, Asamoah Gyan, yesterday led a 19-man team to end their non-residential training sessions at the Accra Stadium before departing for the United States of America to engage Mexico and USA in international friendlies.
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The Stars resumed training this week in preparation for Mexico at Houston's NRG Stadium in Texas on June 28, before locking horns with USA at the Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut, three days later.
Key players who were out from the team for various reasons were the Ayew brothers (Andre and Jordan) Afriyie Acquah, Thomas Partey and Thomas Agyepong.
In their absence, Coach Kwasi Appiah invited some locally based players, including Nicholas Opoku, Daniel Darkwa, Gideon Waja, Majeed Ashimeru and Zakaria Mumuni to join five other local players - Samuel Sarfo, Winful Cobinnah, Felix Annan, Richard Ofori and Joseph Addo, who were already in camp for the trip.
The foreign-based Stars who trained at the stadium prior to their departure were Majeed Waris, Raphael Dwamena, Isaac Sackey, Ebenezer Ofori, Yaw Yeboah, Frank Acheampong, Rashid Sumaila, Jerry Akaminko, John Boye and Lumor Agbenyenu.
Coach Appiah who is expected to use the friendlies to give exposure to many of the newly invited players will give room to defenders Harrison Afful and Jonathan Mensah, who left camp for club assignment in the USA.
Also to join the team are Miami FC midfielder Kwadwo Poku and Chicago Fire forward David Accam.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, coach Appiah said his side was ready for the games as it formed part of his quest to access his charges by giving them the chance to prove their worth.
He said much seriousness would be attached to the two friendly matches, explaining that they could help in the FIFA Ranking for the month.
"We are ready for the two friendlies and we are not living anything to chance in any game, as it forms part of my desire to build a solid team. The team is ready to take on both sides as we are not taking any game lightly," coach Appiah said.
