Thomas Partey, Richard Ofori named Black Stars assistant captains
Atletico Madrid midfielder, Thomas Partey, and Ghana’s first choice goalkeeper, Richard Ofori, have been appointed assistant captains by Black Stars head coach Charles Akonnor.
Partey, who made his senior international debut in 2016, has been named First Vice Captain of the team.
Key player
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The 27-year old Partey has risen to become one of the team’s key players in the last two years of his 27 appearances for the national team in which he scored 10 goals while his clout in world football continues to soar in the Spanish La Liga.
The announcement by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) yesterday maintained Andre Ayew as the captain of the team having led the Stars to the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
The Swansea midfielder is the team’s most experienced player after former General Captain, Asamoah Gyan, having made his international debut in 2007. He has since scored 15 goals in 88 senior appearances for Ghana.
Ofori, first choice goalkeeper of South African topflight side Martizburg United, was named Second Deputy Captain of the team on the back of his consistent performance and leadership qualities since taking over the No. 1 position in 2017, making 19 appearances since his international debut on October 18, 2015.
Reward for consistency
As Partey and Ofori were rewarded with consistent top performance, the role of General Captain was effectively scrapped by Akonnor as the future of Ghana’s all-time leading goal scorer Asamoah Gyan [ 51 goals in 109 appearances] in the national team looks all but over.
“The Technical team of the senior national team, Black Stars, upon a broad consultation, has maintained Andre Ayew as Captain of the side.
“The Swansea City attacker, who led Ghana to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, maintains his position as leader of the team despite changes at the technical realm of the senior national team,” the FA said in a statement.
“The trio [Ayew, Partey and Ofori] will lead the Black Stars through the remaining Africa Cup of Nation qualifiers as well as the qualifying games for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and subsequent tournaments,” it added.