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.
. 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).
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).
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).
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.
