Donsu sweeps MTN FA Cup awards - And knocks on Black Stars door

After sweeping three awards at last Friday night’s MTN FA Cup Awards, including the much coveted Most Valuable Player prize, Medeama midfielder Kwasi Donsu believes he has made a strong case for his inclusion in the senior national team, Black Stars.

He told the Graphic Sports in an interview at theAwards Night last Friday that after bidding his time and showing in the FA Cup what he was capable of doing, his time had arrived to be considered for the Stars.

 “I am going to work much harder and prove myself, I am also willing to impress and catch the eye of Coach Avram Grant,” noted Donsu, who played a key role in Medeama’s FA Cup triumph.

The attacking midfielder, who was also honoured with the Goal of the Tournament and Top Scorer prizes after scoring six goals, was hopeful of improving further in the coming season but was coy about his intentions of playing abroad.

Donsu not only stole the show with his hat-trick of awards, but also marked a clean sweep by Medeama, whose coach Swedish Tom Strand, beat Asante Kotoko’s David Duncan to scoop the Best Coach award.

On a night which seemed more like one scripted for the Tarkwa-based club, Medeama’s Muntari Tagoe claimed the Best Goalkeeper award but Kotoko went home with the Top Scoring Club award with 16 goals, as well as the Fair Play award.

The event had the Minister of Youth and Sports Dr Mustapha Ahmed, as the Special Guest of Honour, with GFA capo Kwesi Nyantakyi in attendance, alongside other key officials in the football community.

The minister affirmed the government’s continued support for soccer and the shared vision of using football as a platform to leverage sporting disciplines.

The chairman for the night, Dr Tony Aubyn, entreated the FA and other relevant sports administrators to focus more on the development of grass roots football and also take women football more seriously because it appeared the Black Queens had been neglected compared with the attention given to their male counterparts, the Black Stars.

Other notable award winners were Tudu Mighty Jet’s Emmanuel Eli Keke (Most Promising Player), Aduana Stars’ Godfred Saka (Best Defender)

For the match officials, Issaka Afful scooped the Best Referee prize, while Paul Agambah and C.W. Okine took home the Best Match Commissioners award, Juliet Appiah (Most Promising Referee) and Ashittey Amarh (Best Asst. Referee).

There were special awards presented to Great Astronomers, Afienya City FC and Die Hard Supporters Union for their contribution to the competition.