Kwarasey’s return good for Stars
Former Black Stars and Kumasi Asante Kotoko legend, Joseph Carr, has hailed the recall of Adam Kwarasey to the senior national team, saying the Stars are currently without a substantive goalkeeper and, therefore, the inclusion of the Portland Timbers goalkeeper will encourage a healthy competition among the goalkeepers in the team.
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Kwarasey, who had previously turned down invitations to the national team, was among players invited by Stars’ coach, Avram Grant, for Ghana’s Nations Cup qualifiers against Mozambique this month. He last featured for the Stars in their 1-2 loss to USA at the 2014 FIFA World Cup after which Fatau Dauda became the team’s first choice goalie.
But the prospects of Kwarasey ending his self-imposed exile excites Carr, who was in post when Kotoko won their second African Cup in 1983.
“As I speak to you now, the Black Stars do not have a number one goalkeeper. That means every goalkeeper, including Kwarasey, who is a Ghanaian, has an equal chance to be in the post, and so I am urging all the keepers to work hard,” Carr told the Graphic Sports in an interview.
The former Black Stars number one goalkeeper advised the current goalkeepers to unite and continuously adhere to instructions from their coaches.
While Grant handed call-ups to Kwarasey, Wa All Stars’ enterprising goalkeeper Richard Ofori and Spain-based Razak Braimah for the upcoming AFCON qualifier, former No. 1 Fatau Dauda of AshantiGold lost his place in the team. For Carr, it is important that the team handlers avoid favouritism and come up with a good selection against their opponents.
Responding to a question as to why he had not been engaged to work for any of the national teams for a long time, Carr expressed surprise at the development but stated that he was always available to put his expertise and experience at the disposal of any national team.
“Even some of my junior colleagues are all working with some of the national teams but I do not know why I have been left out,” he lamented.
