Coach Appiah to decide on Stephen Adams

After putting up an outstanding performance for the local Black Stars at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa, goalkeeper Stephen Adams is bracing up for a bigger challenge of fighting for a place in Ghana’s World Cup squad.

The enterprising shot stopper has been down the pecking order in recent times but now seems to have proved to Coach Kwasi Appiah that he has come of age and deserves consideration for a permanent role in the senior national team.

 However, the Aduana Stars goalie’s credentials soared at the CHAN — where he became the only goalie not to have concede a goal during open play and also stood tall during the penalty shootouts in Ghana’s silver medal-winning feat.

On arrival with the Stars from South Africa on Monday night, Adams told the Graphic Sports his fate rested with Coach Appiah who was in South Africa to observe the players and offer support to the Maxwell Konadu-led technical team.

“As for the World Cup in Brazil we are all looking forward to it, but my fate lies in the hands of Coach Kwasi Appiah,” Adams stressed before he was whisked away in a waiting bus  at the Kotoka International Airport.

There was a sizeably organised crowd, comprising journalists, members of various football supporters groups who sang and danced on the precincts of the VIP Annex of the airport when the South African Airways, which carried the CHAN silver medalists, touched down at exactly 8:50pm. 

The media and cheering supporters had endured almost two-hour wait at the airport after the team’s arrival amid heckling and intimidation by security personnel.

Perhaps, travel fatigue and the arrival of the remains of ace broadcaster, Komla Dumor, which coincided with the Stars’ arrival, had a sobering effect on the players and officials as they emerged quietly from the VIP Annex and walked straight into the waiting busa, avoiding questions from journalists . 

Meanwhile, Ghana has chosen the coastal city of Maceió as base for the Black Stars camp ahead of their FIFA World Cup opening Group G match with USA in Natal on June 16. 

According to FIFA, Ghana will camp at the luxurious Radisson Hotel Maceió and  use the multi-purpose Estádio Rei Pelé, a 20,551-capacity facilitiy, also known as Trapichão, for the team’s training.

Famous for its white sandy beaches, year-round sunshine and coral reefs, the Alagoas State capital of Maceió is now gaining notoriety for crime and is known as the most violent state in Brazil.