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Grace Chingoma-Senior Sports Reporter
ARSENAL midfielder, Thomas Partey, has been included in the 32-man Ghana squad announced by new coach, Milovan Rajevac, for next month’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe.
The Gunners star made his first appearance, of the season, as a substitute in Arsenal’s match against Norwich City, two weeks ago.
But, he has fully recovered and was part of the team, which turned the hands of time, with an impressive performance, in a 3-1 thrashing of Tottenham on Sunday.
ZIFA are set to announce the Warriors provisional squad today.
But, Serbian coach Rajevac, who returned for a second sting in charge of the Black Stars last week, has recalled Partey, for his first assignment, against the Warriors.
Former Gunners star, Gilberto Silva, insists Partey will make a huge impact at the Gunners.
“Everyone knows how important he can be for the team,” Gilberto told Goal.com.
“Having this calibre of player is always good for the players because they trust him, especially in that position where many things are decided.
“I hope that he is going to be 100 per cent fit to play 90/95 minutes and help the team. This is what we expect from big players.’’
Fiorentina midfielder, Joseph Alfred Duncan, and Ajax Amsterdam attacking midfielder, Mohammed Kudus, who all missed the qualifiers against Ethiopia and South Africa, have also bounced back into the squad.
Duncan had not been considered for national duty in Ghana for more than a year now.
Turkey-based forward Benjamin Tetteh who plays for Yeni Malatyaspor, has also been handed a call-up by the Serbian gaffer.
Swindon Town FC ‘keeper Jojo Wallocott (26) has been handed his first international call-up.
The Ghanaian squad has four players who ply their trade in the domestic Premiership.
The rest have been drawn from the English Premiership, the Italian Serie A, the Spanish La Liga, the Belgian Juliper League, the Turkish Super Lig and the Polish, Russian and Chinese top-flight leagues.
Rajevac has also drawn some players from the English Championship club Reading, and a player each from the Germany Second Bundesliga, Saudi Arabia second-tier and French Ligue 2.
Captain Andre Ayew is now playing in the Qatari league.
The Black Stars are second, in Group G, with three points, while the Warriors anchor the table, with a point.
Bafana Bafana lead the table with four points while Ethiopia have three points.
Rajevac signed a one-year deal to return to Ghana, as head coach, 11 years after leaving the post, following a successful campaign at the 2010 World Cup finals.
The Serb guided the Black Stars into the quarter-finals and they came within a successful penalty conversion, in the last minute, to become the first African country to reach the last four.
Luis Suarez deliberately used his hands, to stop a goal-bound effort, on his line, earning himself a red card but buying his country an opportunity, to try and survive, from the spot.
Asamoah Gyan, who was the leading Ghanaian striker at the time, sent his effort, from the spot, crashing against the crossbar.
Uruguay, probably inspired by their close shave, went on to win the penalty shootout.
Rajevac insists Ghana would have won the 2010 World Cup had Suarez not chosen to sacrifice himself, with his deliberate handball, in the chaos of those dying minutes.
The Serbian coach’s return has not been welcomed by everyone in Ghanaian football.
Former Black Stars captain, John Paintsil, who starred for English side Fulham, during his playing career, is the latest to question the coach’s return.
“They (local coaches) stand a big chance and they have a bigger page to tell because most of the coaches are doing well,” Painstil told the Joy Sports Link show.
“Odartey Lamptey has been here for a while and then, Didi Dramani, who is also working outside in and out,’’ he said.
‘‘We have Laryea Kingston coming, Godwin Atram is also in.
‘‘Awudu Issaka is also working so hard and we still have our former national team coach, Kwesi Appiah, also around.
‘‘We have many of these local coaches who are doing well and, don’t forget that these coaches are holding License A (badges).
‘‘We have more than 150 coaches holding CAF License A in Ghana here and which they need the opportunity to do well.
‘‘But, if you don’t give them the chance to do well then there is nothing that we can do and the supporters will also see.”
He also believes CK Akonoor, who was replaced by Rajevac, would still have taken the Black Stars to the 2022 World Cup finals.
“For instance, the World Cup qualifiers, CK Akonnor would’ve qualified anyway, but when the decision is coming, there is nothing that you can do.
‘‘We should not underrate the local coaches, we should give opportunities and chances.’’
However, Ghana Football Association president, Kurt Okraku, remains convinced Rajevac has the experience needed to write a success story, with the Black Stars.
“Milovan has the experience and we believe, with the support from Ghanaians, he and the technical team would deliver,” Okraku said.
Ghana provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati- Zigi (FC St. Gallen), Richard Atta (Hearts of Oak), Ibrahim Danlad, (Asante Kotoko), Jojo Wallocott (Swindon Town)
Defenders: Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC), Andrew Yiadom (Reading FC), Ismail Ganiyu (Asante Kotoko), Gideon Mensah (Bordeaux), Baba Abdul Rahman (Reading FC), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg)
Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC), Baba Idrissu (Real Mallorca), Alfred Duncan (Fiorentina), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens), Mubarak Wakaso, (Shenzhen FC), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Majeed Ashimeru (RSC Anderlecht), Kofi Kyere (St. Pauli), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Steadfast FC).
Forwards: Andre Ayew (Al Sadd SC), Kamaldeen Suleymana (Rennes), Tariq Fosu-Henry (Brentford FC), Joel Fameyeh (Orenburg), Yaw Yeboah (Wisla Kraków), Samuel Owusu (Al-Fayha FC), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Caleb Ekuban (Genoa), Emmanuel Gyasi (Spezia), Benjamin Tetteh (Yeni Malatyaspor).
Online Reporter