Premier League side Great Olympics midfielder Gladson Awako has called on all football fans and pundits to support senior players who return abroad to relaunch their career in the domestic league rather than mocking them as being too old for the game.
The Ghana Premier League has over the years, seen players return home after playing in Europe, Asia, South America, America or even other African countries to play for clubs in the domestic league, adding maturity, flair, attraction and quality to the league. Examples of such players include Laryea Kingston (retired), Daniel Nii Adjei (King Faisal), Charles Taylor (retired), Fatawu Dauda (Legon Cities), Emmanuel Clottey (Great Olympics), Stephen Adams (Great Olympics) and just to mention few.
Currently, Black Stars midfield power house Sulley Muntari has been heavily linked with a move to premier league giants Accra Hearts of Oak. The former AC Miland, Inter Milan, Sunderland, Udinese star is currently without a club after leaving Spanish second tire side Albacete Balompie, and has been rumoured to be in talks with Hearts of Oak for a possible move to the capital.
Commenting on the move should it be made official, Gladson Awako says it will be a good addition to the league, but has cautioned against mockeries directed at such players, with the notion that they are too old to join the domestic league.
“It will help us and help the League too, it will bring attention to the League”, Awako told ghanasportspage.com. In the midst of the rumoured move, a section of the Hearts of Oak fans have expressed displeasure about it, citing his age as a reason, but 29-year old Awako, who is a returnee of the domestic league thinks otherwise and sees that to be problem facing the growth of the league.
“It’s a problem which I have with the fans and some of the media personnel too, it happens to me too. When Great Olympics signed me they were like I was too old, I can’t play and all that, but when I started playing the same people were saying I have impressed them, I have proven them wrong and all that”, Awako revealed.
According to him, tagging the experience players with old age is the major problem why many players who would love to return to the domestic league are not coming and it’s about time this stopped.
“These are the problems where there a lot of people who want to come and play in the League but are unable to come, because they fear a lot of people will be saying they are too old and all that, but just give the person the chance and if he’s unable to do it and his strength is too low then you can complain or criticize him”, he said.
Sulley Muntari is currently 35 years, and will turn 36 in August. Ghana’s all time top scorer, Asamoah, 34, has also been linked with a move to Asante Kotoko in the second transfer window. Gyan has by himself, said it on several occasions that he will play for the Porcupine Warriors before he retires.
