In truth we all knew it was only a matter of time before the Ayew brothers, Michael Essien and possibly even Kevin-Prince Boateng made a return to the Black Stars fold; but no one, absolutely no one could have predicted the possible return of former first-choice goalkeeper Richard ‘Olele’ Kingson. News filtered through the media this week that Kwesi Appiah is considering bringing him in for next months’s World cup qualifier against Egypt.
Unsurprisingly, this news was met with looks so worrying that the most optimistic of fans would cower at the sight of so much pessimism. Once again, the glass has been viewed as half-empty rather than half-full. But you wouldn’t need a crystal ball to realize that the Black Stars are in need of a top quality first choice goalkeeper, which they cannot boast of currently, as much as they are of an able-bodied replacement for captain Asamoah Gyan in attack. Dare I say, we are much more unconvincing between the posts than we are in attack at this point in time.
It is becoming increasingly evidently clear that neither Fatau Dauda nor Adam Kwarasey has done enough to secure the number one position for the Black Stars, and time is running out for both of them. So what do you do when you’re approaching a World Cup playoff tie against a team who have won every single game in the series? Get the “safest pair of hands” between the sticks. And as the Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi rightly put it, when fit, Richard Kingson is the best we have in this regard.
There is no disputing the fact that Kwarasey and Dauda are quality goalkeepers in their own right, but where lies the assurance that they will be able to guard our goal against top quality opposition? Despite having represented Ghana in major tournaments in recent years, both keepers simply haven’t done enough to convince the Ghanaian faithful that they are worthy of being first choice. Dauda for his part can’t get a game at Orlando Pirates at the moment, and this could prove a serious worry if he is to be first choice. This is where Richard Kingson comes in.
The importance of experience in a match of the Ghana-Egypt kind cannot be overemphasized, and the wealth of experience Richard Kingson would bring to the national team is an undeniable fact. After representing Ghana in international tournaments over a period spanning more than a decade, he’s seen it all. After an extended period away from football, Olele, after signing a contract in July is back in goal, this time for Cyprus side Doxa Katokopias. He is in goal on a consistent basis, a thing of which Dauda cannot boast.
If indeed Kwesi Appiah has contacted Richard Kingson, or is considering doing so for that matter, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is a step in the right direction. This move could bring to rest questions over who is the right man for the job. In Olele, we have someone who knows how to get the job done, and knows the inside outs of the team. He needs no introduction to the team setup, and would be a welcome addition.
That Olele is deemed unworthy of representing the nation, and is seen as being past it is an insult to a man who has given his all time and time again when called upon. Admittedly he may not be the shot stopper of old, but he should not be judged on a string of poor performances, but we can all attest to the fact that on his day, he stands head and shoulders above many a keeper on this continent, and possibly the world.
There is but one more piece left in the jigsaw puzzle of comebacks; and he is in the person Richard Kingson. His return will more than boost our chances against the Egyptians. Fear still lingers in the hearts of Ghanaians at the prospect of facing the North Africans. If Kingson indeed does make the return as number one, we can begin to sleep easy, in the knowledge that our destiny rests in the safest pair of hands possible. After all, a first love is irreplaceable…..and is unforgettable.
Allsportsgh
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