Kuffuor Ready To Join Black Stars

Mr Fred Osam Duodu, head coach of the senior national team, Black Stars has expressed his willingness to accept Samuel Osei Kuffour, former deputy skipper of the team, back into the provisional squad preparing for next month's African Cup of Nations in Mali.

The coach took the decision after a meeting with Mr Edward Osei-Kwaku, Minister for Youth and Sports, who briefed him on his discussion with the player on recent problems over the captaincy and preparation for the Mali tournament.

A statement signed by Mr Kofi Nsiah, General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), said the coach had accepted the player's apology in the best interest of the nation and had asked for the minister to arrange for Kuffour to join the Stars in Egypt where they are to play the Egyptian National team on Friday January 4.

In a recent interview granted to the BBC after the Skipper C.K. Akunnor was dropped from stars' squad, Kuffour, who plays for German side Bayern Munich, expressed reservations about the preparation of the team for the Mali tournament.

Coach Duodu sent him a letter seeking further clarification on his comments, which Kuffour said they were taken out of context. He said he never downplayed the capabilities of the team.

The coach did not invite the player to camp after he returned home for the winter break causing speculations that he had been dropped from the team.

It is believed that the absence of the player from the squad would affect his chances of winning the African Footballer-of-the-Year 2001 for which he has been short-listed among three others.