MUNTARI WANTS A TROPHY WITH GHANA
Ghana International Sulley Ali Muntari says he hopes to win a trophy for the national team before quitting football. The midfielder wants back into the international scene where he stayed away from for three years.
The Italy based man wants the Black Stars to win a trophy in his time and he feels he can contribute to the team. He adds that despite the odds, the Ghana team can still qualify for the forthcoming World Cup in Russia next year.
Muntari along with former teammates Kelvin Prince Boateng and Michael Essien were suspended from the national team following the last World Cup in Brazil. Muntari apologized to the nation and there are rumours that he could make the next event in Russia if the West African soccer giants make it. According to sport.netbet.co.uk, Ghana are the tenth favourites to actually win it, though they might be able to go one better and make the Final.
“Yes, of course, national team, of course, I want to play again with the national team. You know many people are saying that probably we can’t make it to the World Cup, but I think we can do it,” he said in a recent interview.
Ghana are walking on a tight rope but Muntari is convinced that they can reach the finals next year.
“You know why? Because If we win all our games,” he answered when asked of the possibility. We did the same in 2006 when we qualified for the first time to the World Cup. We lost our first game, we drew away but then we won all our games, it’s the same situation now. I think we can do it,” he added.
The Ghanaians that qualified for that pioneer event like Stephen Appiah, Essien and Muntari, Richard Kingston and Matthew Amoah remain dear to the fans many years after. Essien is still active but injuries contributed to his sack from the national side.
Prince Boateng has been decent for La Liga side Las Palmas but without his apology he remains blacklisted from the national squad.
There are rumours that Coach Kwesi Appiah could invite Muntari to the national team for the rest of the qualifiers as the Black Stars scavenge for all points possible. Muntari acknowledges that he might not be in top form as he is not playing regularly for a top side.
“Coming back to me, of course, I want to play for the national team but I have to start playing for a club then after we can see what happens.”
Muntari’s best days were at Inter Milan and AC Milan. He featured for Ittihad in 2015 and Pescara in the second half of last term. He is a free agent and hopes to get a new employer soon. With his current situation, re-invitation to the national team is difficult, aside the bad blood it might cause when younger ones with better form are littered everywhere.
Ghana’s World Cup rival Uganda are in shambles after their coach quits but Egypt are solidly focused on making the world event next year. The North African sides are five points ahead of the Ghanaians and do not look like a side that would falter anytime soon.