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INTERVIEW: Ghana hopeful Elvis Manu on his meteoric rise in Holland, Black Stars dreams and says England defenders don't joke about

By ghanasoccernet.com
Sports News INTERVIEW: Ghana hopeful Elvis Manu on his meteoric rise in Holland, Black Stars dreams and says England defenders don't joke about
AUG 31, 2016 LISTEN

The engimatic former Feyenoord flyer endured a nightmarish debut season in England but has given Seagulls manager Chris Hughton food for thought with his scoring performance in 2 Cup games.

Elvis Manu sits down to chat with Ghanasoccernet's El Akyereko Frimpong on a range of issues relating to his club and international career.

His cheekbone reclines to pave way for a broad smile and appreciation as a band of overjoyous Dutch fans chant and sing his name from the stands. The powerful striker's tore and sweat yields results at a club he spent almost his entire childhood and nurturing his career.

At the Stadion Feijenoord, Elvis Manu moved into the shadow of a cult hero at Feyenoord. His form for the 1969-70 European champions.

Before quitting the Eredivisie (Dutch top-flight league) for England's second-tier competition (Championship), the 22-year-old was one of the top players in the league, ranking ahead of Liverpool's Georginio Wajnaldum and Southampton star Jordy Classie. His decisive goals propelled Feyenoord in both domestic and European competition.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton hailed the attacker's arrival and expressed optimism about his success. But Manu fell down the pecking order and even joined Huddersfield in search of playing time. On his return, the Kunta Kinte attacker is determined to work his way up the pecking order of regular first team game time at Brighton. But the variations between the Dutch league and English league demands a lot of adjustment in physical readiness and technical aptness.

Brighton broke the bank to cough out 2 million Euros for his signature. But the attacker has failed to start a league game in England. However he remains confident of recapturing his good old form.

"Off course from where I came
from at Feyenoord I was playing week in week out and scoring goals even in Europe so why can't I do that in the championship?"

Brand new season is around the corner and, Manu admits game time was hard to come by last season but he remains bullish about his success in the current season.

"We all know that things haven't work out they way it suppose when I signed here last summer but I came back this pre season to show

myself over again I have come back stronger and with the knowledge that everything can happen in football. I've now played 2 cup games and scored 2 goals."

After scoring twice in two cup games he hopes to catch the attention of the manager for first team role.

"I want to play regular and go back to what I used to do best and that is scoring goals whether it's at Brighton or somewhere else I need to play."

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Manu is still adjusting to the physical demands of the English game and feels even more free compare the Eredivisie and the Championship. As he puts it, England defender's don't joke around.

"Off course England is a tougher league and the deffenders don't joke around. England is the place where you want to play football so I'm happy that I'm here. Holland is more tactical but England is more direct and that's the biggest different in my opinion."

He reveals the departure of manager Fred Rutten from Feyenoord changed perspectives at the club and he decided to look elsewhere and he also wanted another challenge.

"My time at Feyenoord was great I knew what I was capable of and I was hitting top gear but I wanted another challenge because things weren't feeling the way it should be when the manager Fred Rutten left. At Brighton things haven't work out the way I wanted but I still believe in myself and know if I get a chance I can hit the form

I was on at Feyenoord but if not I've to look forward and go to an another club where I can play week in week out."

Manu met with Ghana FA bigwigs and even held discussions with head coach Avram Grant about his international future. While Ghana were hopefully negotiating, Holland remained in the shadows hoping to grab him for the Oranjes. But the powerful attacker had already concluded on his international future. He reveals FIFA is still processing his switch of nationality and he's delighted to play for his country.

"Playing for Ghana would be a dream as I'm a Ghanian. The last update I had was that they were finishing the last details. But the process started a year ago so that cost me a lot of opportunities."

Elvis has represented Holland at youth levels and he's still leaving the door ajar for the European giants, but he says if his nationality switch delays.

"As I played for Holland in all youth stages it will be easy to play for holland cause I got the nationallity but I don't know what's going to happen but if Holland calls me up before Ghana and the paperwork is still not done I can't refuse to play for Holland."

By El Akyereko
Follow the writer on Twitter: @AkyerekOfficial

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