[ 2013-12-20 ]

We don’t fear ‘huu’!
Ghanaian international, Jerry Akaminko, believes
the Black Stars are good enough to sail through
the preliminary round of the Brazil 2014 FIFA
World Cup despite being drawn in a tough group
alongside Germany, Portugal and the United States
of America (USA).

The Turkey-based defender admitted the huge
challenge the team Ghana faces in Group G but
maintained that qualifying for the next stage of
the competition was not insurmountable.

“I am praying that all the injured players will
fully recover to enable the coach to select the
best to represent the nation. With this, Ghana
would have a solid all-round team to display our
brand of football at the highest level in
Brazil,” he assured in a telephone interview
with the Graphic Sports.

He commended Ghanaian football fans for their
constructive criticism which brought the best out
of him after conceding a penalty against Congo in
the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

“The outpour of criticisms by the fans after
that penalty goal rather galvanised me to step up
my international career,” Akaminko revealed.

“Instead of allowing the sentiments of football
fans to affect me, I took them in good faith and
decided to step up my training in Turkey, and
today I have featured consistently for my team in
the Turkey Super League and also been recalled
into the national team by Coach James Kwasi Appiah
and his technical team,” he noted.

Akaminko was also full of praise for the Stars’
technical team for recalling him to feature in the
World Cup play-off against the Pharaohs of Egypt,
saying that gave him the opportunity to make
amends and also help the team to qualify for the
Brazil 2014 World Cup.

“I cannot say that I performed creditably during
our two-leg matches against Egypt, but since I
have not heard any negative criticism from
football fans, I can say that they have fully
endorsed my performance,” he said.

On his output in the Turkish Toto Super League,
Akaminko said since the league started some months
ago, he had featured full time in 14 out of 15
games for Eski ehirspor.

“Playing consistently for Eski ehirspor in 14
league matches and two cup matches this year alone
is an indication that my coach has confidence in
me and also likes my style of play. All these came
about because I was focused and determined to
appease soccer fans at home and earn a recall into
the national team,” Akaminko stressed.

Eski ehirspor was currently sixth in the 18-club
League with 24 points, and expressed the hope that
the team would finish in a respectable position to
enable them to participate in the Europa League.

He also thanked God for making it possible for him
to feature consistently for his team, saying “it
is by the grace of God that I have played
consistently at the highest level of the Turkish
league for the past two years, and I pray that God
will continue to offer me the strength to compete
more favourably in all major competitions.”

Source - Graphic Sports

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