Kwarasey did not quit Black Stars — Afriyie

The chairman of the Black Stars management committee, George Afriyie, has dispelled speculation suggesting that the team’s shot-stopper, Adam Kwarasey, quit national duties after Ghana’s botched World Cup campaign in Brazil last year.

The 27-year-old goalie is expected to return from a self-imposed exile by being named in Coach Avram Grant’s 20-man squad to play in a friendly against Canada at the RFK Stadium in Washington on October 13.

But the goalkeeper’s likely return to the national team is already sparking controversy, following comments he was reported to have made prior to his strained relationship with the Black Stars.

Kwarasey reportedly to have questioned the competence of the Stars’ goalkeepers’ trainer, Nassamu Yakubu, for adding little to him (Kwarasey) anytime he was in camp because the trainer used outmoded training techniques  and without any clear structure to his training regimen.

The Portland Timbers goalie was also alleged to have outlined certain conditions for officials of the Stars to meet in order to evoke his return.

However, those claims were dismissed yesterday by  Mr Afriyie, who told the Graphic Sports during an interview that the player never made any such claims.

He cited an occasion Coach Grant met with the player to iron out the differences at which the player denied making any such remarks.

“The player told the coach those comments were not officially from him and he never made any of those rumours making the rounds,” said the Stars management chief.

According to him, Kwarasey turned down an invitation to play in the Nations Cup last January because he had not trained for over three months and was on holiday with his family in Mexico and, therefore, not in good shape to be part of the team.

Afriyie was, however, evasive when he was pushed to confirm the return of the player, but Graphic Sports sources hinted that the player would be part of the squad likely to be released today.

Coach Grant is expected to maintain more than 80 per cent of his old guards with a few new names expected to be included in the list.

But a name among the old guards to be conspicuously missing will be Juventus star, Kwadwo Asamoah, who has also been out of the team for about a year now.