Stars Arrive In Australia

The Black Stars have arrived in the Australian capital Sydney for a friendly against the home side tomorrow. Ghana will face the Socceroos at the Sydney Football Stadium on as part of the build-up for important matches ahead. Ghana will use the game as part of the team’s preparation towards 2010 World Cup and African Nations qualifiers which begins later in June. There is a change in goalkeeping personnel as George Owu makes a return to the team while William Amamoo gets first call up to the national side. Owu last appeared for Ghana in the build up to the 2006 World Cup. Also earning a debut call up is Israeli-based attacker, Samuel Yeboah. Francis Dickoh, who shelved thoughts of ending his international career, makes it into the 18-man squad after missing out of the team for the 2008 African Nations Cup. Dundee United’s Prince Buaben and Derek Asamoah of French side, Nice are included in the team. Two members of the local Black Stars, David Addy and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu earn their first call up to the senior team while Harrison Afful maintains his place in the squad. Ghana Team Goalkeepers: George Owu (Al Masry Club, Egypt) and William Amamoo (Vasalund, Sweden) Defenders: John Paintsil (West Ham, England), John Mensah (Rennes, France), Francis Dickoh (FC Utrecht, Holland), Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland) David Addy (Wa All Stars, Ghana) Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Stabaek, Norway), Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England), Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Prince Buaben (Dundee Utd, Scotland) Derek Asamoah (Nice, France) Strikers: Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Berekum Arsenal, Ghana), Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain) Samuel Yeboah (Hapoel Kfar-Saba, Israel) ¨ Former Black Stars defender, Frimpong Manso, has been named as the assistant coach of the national Under-17 team, the Black Starlets. Manso, resigned his post as technical director at premier league debutants, Kessben FC to pick up the job. The former Kumasi Asante Kotoko captain will assist his former coach at the Black Stars, E.K Afranie. He played and captained the locally-based national team from 1987 -to-1994. Manso also captained Kotoko to the then Africa Club Championship in 1993 where the team lost out on penalties in Egypt. He was assistant coach to Cecil Jones Attuquayfio with the Olympics team, the Black Meteors.