Grant: I bear no grudge against Kwarasey
Black stars coach, Avram Grant, insist he bears no grudge against US-based goalkeeper Adambathia Larsen Kwarasey, disclosing that his utmost consideration for call-up to the national team will always be the commitment of players to national duty.
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Grant reaction came last Monday after he had been heavily criticized for sidelining the young goalie who once established himself as the nation’s safest pair of hands until the Star’s disastrous world cup campaign in Brazil last year.
In the aftermath of Brazil 2014 campaign, Kwarasey announced a temporary suspension of his national services to the national team, insisting that the goalkeeper’s trainer, Nasamu Yakubu was incompetent and must be fired before he considered returning to the national team.
However, the Portland Timbers’ goalkeeper reneged his words some three months ago and made himself available for selection after displaying some form in the Major League Soccer (MLS).
Grant obliged and invited him for a Black Star friendly against Canada in Washington DC in September this year but the goalkeeper was inhibited by club commitments and failed to respond to the invitation.
Since then the youngster has been conspicuously missing from the Black Stars invitations, but at press conference in Accra to mark his one year in of the national team, the Israeli-born Grant stated “ I don’t have any problem with Kwarasey as most people think. In fact I bear him no grudge just like any other player”
“I will always consider commitment and form in my selection for the team, expressing worry about lack of playing time for Atsu and Wakasu.
On his future plans after the expiry of his contract in 2017 Grant maintained that his main target was to lead the stars to win the 2017 edition of the African Nations Cup in Gabon.
