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Unleash the goalkeeping 'Beast' coach Kwesi Appiah

By Michael Duah
Unleash the goalkeeping 'Beast' coach Kwesi Appiah
Unleash the goalkeeping 'Beast' coach Kwesi Appiah
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With CK Akonnor labeling Felix Annan "the best in Ghana" after his latest fine performance in Asante Kotoko's 2-1 win over Zesco United in the CAF Confederation Cup match-day two at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Evidently, Akonnor believes that Annan’s brilliant contribution to the Asante Kotoko setup represents nothing more remarkable than a quality player doing his job well.

Here it is: Felix Annan is the best goalkeeper in Ghana currently. The young custodian has been the best goalkeeper in Ghana for at least the past three years.  Anybody who knows anything about the sport bothers to argue otherwise anymore, even for the sake of being contrarian.

What's more, Annan, who is 24 years old and at the height of his powers, will remain the best goalkeeper in Ghana for years to come.

It's a rare and pleasing thing, in a world permeated with compromise and equivocation, to stand at this window and know that the human being on the other side is better at what he does, both quantitatively and qualitatively than anyone else currently doing it in the country-- and, in all likelihood, anyone who ever had for Kotoko.

I find it difficult to comprehend why the best goalkeeper on the local scene is repeatedly snubbed when it comes to playing for the Black Stars. I do not know if it is because he is playing in the local league, well, I don't want to think out loud.

At some point, Richard Kingson, who is the goalkeeper's trainer for the Black Stars said, “Felix Annan is one of the best goalkeepers in the country and I believe that he still has a chance with the Black Stars. The fact that we didn’t invite him doesn’t mean he’s totally out of the national team. Let’s encourage him because he has a bright future.”

Isn’t it inappropriate that a shot-stopper considered to be amongst the best in the country is often overlooked for national team selection?

What could be the reason behind his constant snub from Coach Kwesi Appiah's team? could it be age matter? then it becomes more muddling for the reason that, Annan has over and again proved his worth, making his age [24 years] more of a credit than a discredit to him. 

To crown it all, Coach Kwesi Appiah, heaped praises on Annan after he was handed his debut appearance with Black Stars against Asante Kotoko in Kumasi last year. “I was aware of what Felix Annan could do and that is why I gave him a national team call-up. I’ve watched him several times with Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League and in his first competitive game for the Black Stars, he impressed everyone. I’m very happy for him” were the exact words of Kwesi Appiah.Related imageI have been disappointed in Kwesi Appiah's call-ups sideling the best goalkeeper locally and call Lawrence Ati-Zigi, note that I have 'nothing' against Ati-Zigi. I am only flooring any argument one may raise with respect to the fact that our league has been on hold since the Anas exposé but Annan has had enough game time with Asante Kotoko in the Confederation Cup to merit a national team call-up.

The second coming of coach James Kwesi Appiah excited most Ghanaians as they felt that the gaffer would give opportunities to the local players to showcase their potentials…….and if the league’s finest goalkeeper hasn’t been noticed by the gaffer, who will? 

READ ALSO: We have criteria of inviting players to the Black Stars-Richard Kingson

Asante Kotoko recorded an emphatic 2-1 victory over Zambian heavyweights, Zesco United at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi where Annan saved a penalty and made superlative saves to deny the Zambians from snatching a point from the Porcupine Warriors.

The development elicited several Ghanaians reactions who took to social media to heap praises on the young goalkeeper, who has been touted the 'reflex king' and with Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah set to name his team for the 2019 AFCON to be held in Egypt, one name that every Ghanaian is betting on is Felix Annan being part of three goalkeepers Ghana will submit to CAF.

Some of the comments were a bit hilarious with some several memes attached to the post on Social media platforms.

PrimeNewsGhana's Duah Michael samples some social media reactions as seen below: 

https://twitter.com/BarristerDrew/status/1095722931743789057

https://twitter.com/Cookies_GH/status/1095728235332153350

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