Former Ghana goalkeeper Abukari Damba says Portland Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey would not have erred were he to ask for a starting spot assurance before making a return to the Black Stars.
The 27-year-old player has not played for Ghana since their 2-1 defeat to the USA at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
Having been dropped for Fatau Dauda after the opening day defeat to the Stars and Stripes, the Oslo-born fell out with the technical team of the Black Stars headed by then coach Kwesi Appiah as well as goalkeepers’ trainer Nassam Yakubu.
Ghana were eventually eliminated at the group stage and that has been the last seen of Kwarasey with the team.
Following his appointment as Ghana coach in December 2014, Avram Avram Grant tried unsuccessfully to persuade the ex-Stromsgodset shot-stopper into making a quick return ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
After months of talks, Kwarasey decided to call time on his sabbatical ahead of Ghana’s friendly with Canada in the USA last October, confirming he had indeed accepted an invitation for the fixture.
However, the goalkeeper made a last-minute U-turn, asking to be excused for the tie due to club commitments. And there have been rumours that Kwarasey’s lethargy was due to a lack of guarantee over the starting spot.
“Kwarasey’s return is long overdue,” Damba was quoted by Football Made in Ghana.
“All that we need to understand is that, in everything that we do, there should be some sense of security.
“If we can guarantee that, the fellow becomes relevant in the team and I think we need him in the Black Stars.”
Kwarasey’s withdrawal apparently didn’t go down well with Grant, who consequently chose to leave him out of Ghana’s squad for the 2018 World Cup qualifying double-header with Comoros in November.
By Prince Narkortu Teye