WHAT GHANA'S 4 REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE BRINGING INTO THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE THIS SEASON.

Writer:: Amoah Kofi

Twitter:: @milikykophy

Facebook:: Miliky-Amoah Kophy

The English Premier League (EPL) has never been bereft of excitement, passion, scream for goal by commentators, sadness, joy and most unavoidably surprises. Undoubtedly, one of the best and most popular league in the world.

From players, coaches, team managers and team owners up to the Premier League board members each will be marking time and patiently marching straight into a brand new 2015/2016 league season. The marketability and branding of the EPL makes matches a delight to watch with mouth watering encounters, sound bytes, rivalry and interviews. The skills, thrilling passion and agility showed by smaller clubs per se withstanding the bullying muscle of the so called big clubs are incredible. Such matches are very fascinating and interesting.

Luckily, Ghana won't be left out the train as André Ayew, Jeffrey Schlupp, Christian Atsu and Jordan Ayew makes up the 4 Ghanaian quartets who will be representing the West African country on the 8th of August 2015 as the league kick start. How are these players going to fare as the intensity and the pressure begins to build up. Will they be able to face their fans, put up a spirited performance and wave their hands in the air after matches or face the vibrant media to answer series of question on poor performances. A question every EPL fan will be asking. Their speed, passes, accuracy, technique and other sporting abilities will be taken into play and well monitored in the course of the league.

ANDRÉ   DEDE   AYEW (SWANSEA).

25 year old André Morgan Rami Ayew, affectionately called Dede Ayew in the media circles was born on 17th Dec 1989 in France. The second son of the 3 time African footballer of the year, Abedi Ayew Pele, the maestro they call him. He has risen from the grassroots and now a force to reckon with in the world of football.

Dede  Ayew began his professional football by signing for his father's former club, Olympiqué Marseille in 2005 and made his debut at the age of 14.  Due to his quick learning in the game and a promise of a bright future he wasn't done away with but loaned to Lorient and Arles Avignon. His brilliance and skills helped Avignon gain promotion to the French Ligue 1 in 2010.  Earlier on he captained Ghana's U-20 side to win gold at the World Youth tournament in Egypt. The first African side to achieve this remarkable feat. We famously remember his 25 yard strike against England in the group stage which Ghana won by four goals to nil. He was recalled to join the Marseille's senior team after his exploits. Since then, he has played a total of 160 matches for Olympiqué Marseille and scored 44 goals before going on a free transfer to English Premier League side Swansea.

One thing that we have never lost sight of him is his passion for the game and commitment. We have seen him clapping several times to urge his team mates on when the going gets tough. And the painful part is the beat on his chest when he scores. Ouch, that could be painful. He did same in Ghana's game against USA at the just ended 2014 world cup when he scored the equalizer and Ghana’s second game against Germany. Continuously beating his chest, his kind of goal celebration. This is a true reflection of a self motivated player with a die in the wood commitment to his work.

He is one player who has enormous offensive abilities often than not tracks back to help the defense

. He enjoys dribbling around to create space for strikers to coolly finish up a pass from him. Taking defenders on has been one of his trademark. His aerial duels has been very remarkable and one thing he does often in games is to hold on to the ball. He has perfected that in times past and no wonder it won a penalty for Ghana in South Africa 2010 world cup match against Australia. That has always attracted fouls for him and his team. Are these the only qualities embedded in him? No. One thing he also enjoys is to play short passes and a quick one two to beat on rushing defenders. Above all, he likes to cut in from sides and dazzles in laying off. Such an incredible and talented player he is.

On the flip side, certain dimensions to his play is his frequent fouls and one thing you will never see Dede Ayew do much repeatedly in matches is crosses. Crossing from either right or left hasn't been his trademark. Not to say he doesn't, he does, but the question is how frequent is it. He will rather hold on to the ball, dribble and attract a foul from the opponent.

This is the kind of skills, agility and foresight the Premier League followers will be enjoying from him when the 2015/2016 league kick start.

CHRISTIAN   ATSU (AFC BOURNEMOUTH).

Christian Atsu Twasam  born on 10th January 1992 is  currently a player of Chelsea but loaned to AFC Bournemouth. He is one player I like to see him play most often because of his nimble footed and excellent reading of the game.

Atsu began his football career with Portuguese outfit FC Porto but due to lack of playing time, he was loaned to Rio Ave. He join Porto once again after his loan period expired and was eventually sold to Premier League side Chelsea for £3.5m in 2013. As if the loan spree was going to see an abrupt end, he was loaned on arrival to Vittesse  Arhem in the Holland Erevidise top flight league where he played 30 games and scored 5 goals. In a bit for more playing time, a taste of the Premiership and close monitoring, he was loaned out once again to Premier League outfit Everton where he had a torrid time. He struggled for playing time and sometimes no where to be found at the team's bench. Despite being selected by CAF as the most valuable player (MVP) in the African Cup of Nations staged in Equatorial-Guinea, he only made 13 appearances in all competitions. To sum it up, he created 5 chances and made 1 defensive error. One of his worst season I guess.

Atsu now has another opportunity to prove his critics wrong as he will be beginning the season with newly promoted side AFC Bournemouth. His attributes has been that of taking set pieces and in addition takes delight in taking long range shorts. A typical example to this is his sumptuous 30 yard strike from the right side of the midfield to beat Guinean goalkeeper Naby Yatara in the Cup of Nations. His dribbling skills of using both feet's to go past defenders is such incredible and one good thing about it is, he has bettered it with confidence. He moves the ball with much confidence giving incisive and defense splitting passes in such aplomb. That is the beast he is growing himself into. And in the coming years, he will be a real force. He and Dede Ayew enjoys similar playing styles, cutting inside from either right or left, playing short passes and laying off. One thing opponents will not want to let glaring to him is an opportunity for a counter attack. He will thankfully grab that opportunity and make it count. A plus to his football career is his strength and agility withstanding the might of bulky defenders. Diving to win fouls has never been an option for him.

One thing he needs to work on is his aerial duels, tackling and defensive contributions. If worked on, he will be a delight to watch especially watching him play along side another African compatriot Max Gradel who is signed from St. Etienne.We wait for eye catching football and crazy skills as fingers are crossed.

JEFFREY  SCHLUPP (LEICESTER CITY).

Born in Germany, Hamburg on the 23 of Dec 1992 and plays for Leicester City in the English Premier League. Schlupp is a product of Leicester City's youth academy. His commitment and hard work has been unquestionable. A versatile player he is, can play an attacking role and defend as well. In defense, he will give you a sweet surging runs at the laterals, crossing and covering up in midfield. A sweet display at either left or right back. A real solider on duty defending his territories. Appearing 34 times for Leicester City last season and scoring 4 goals  isn't anything surprising.

The crowd, media, boos, and press won't be anything new to him as this season will be his second spell in the EPL. He is easily identified when in tussle or challenge for a ball. His has much strength to add to his qualities, shoving off attackers and wingers. His defense contributions and ball interception was spot on last season. With a few miscalculated attempt, generally he has been on top. His ball blocking has been timely. Long balls and shots has been one thing he tried repeatedly for Leicester last season.

But one demerit I have heard the English commentators and the Daily Mail report about him in matches is his momentarily loss of concentration. That can cause any team a defeat on any good day. With his game against Malawi for the Black Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium, he shown nothing than a player maturing into an exceptional player and even had a goal to his effort. This new season will see new Jeffrey Schlupp giving a hell of a time to teams in the EPL.

JORDAN   PIERRE   AYEW (ASTON VILLA).

23 year old Jordan Ayew, a brother to Andre Dede Ayew, who is now a Villain started his football career with Lyon Duchere in France from 2000 to 2006. In 2006, he joined Olympiqué Marseille as a trainee and subsequently signed a professional contract in 2009. He signed 3 years with Marseille. He made his debut on 16 Dec, 2009 against Lorient scoring in the process. He played for Marseille from 2009 to 2014 making 111 appearances and scoring 14. He moved from Marseille to Lorient in 2014 playing 29 times and netting 12 times last season.

Jordan has been criticized by a lot of  Ghanaians in time past because of where he normally positions his jersey pants in matches. Pulling it just below his buttocks as if is almost going down (called ‘otto phister’ in Ghana).  And his recent form for the Black Stars. But critically, he is a player who comes into the frame with a huge huge prospect. Given time and patience he will flourish with style and swag. No wonder he showed glimpses of it at the just ended African Cup of Nations held in Equatorial-Guinea. He has 28 appearance for the Stars and has scored 8 goals to his credit.

He has played for Marseille, Sochaux and Lorient in the French Lique 1 and currently joined his brother in the English Premier League signing for Aston Villa. Jordan share similar playing qualities with his brother. His speed, long range shots and dribbling technique has been his major trademark. To talk of speed, then he has found the right league to ply his trade. The EPL has been noted for this over the years. He is a player who has improved in the attacking role and can play as an arrow head or cut in from either right or the left side of attack. He enjoyed a 59% shot accuracy and created 34 chances last season for Lorient. He doesn't only score but creates goal scoring opportunities for others. A trait we see his senior brother Dede Ayew.

A lacking effect has been his discipline on the field of play. He picked 8 yellow cards last season for 

Lorient which could be a disturbing effect for him as a striker. His temperament control has also been a suspect. The EPL will be a hell of breeding grounds if such is not controlled. But on a whole, he is one person who fights and never give up on the field. He is a fighter and that is what the EPL is all about.

With EPL starting this weekend, we hope and pray for injury free season as these players entertain and excite us with good performances. Atsu's side Bournemouth will play at home to Jordan's Aston Villa at 2:00pm. At the same time, Schlupp's Leicester City will welcome Sunderland and in a late kick off, current champions Chelsea will begin their title defence against Dede Ayew's Swansea City at 4:30 pm.