Hamza Happy At Stars' Recall

ONE of Ghana’s shrewd midfielders, Hamza Mohammed, says he is very happy to be recalled into the senior national team, Black Stars.

The player has been in-and-out of the team, having featured in the last Nations Cup in Egypt as well as the Mali 2002 tournament.

Hamza also played no mean role in the Stars’ successful Germany 2006 World Cup campaign – but was sidelined.

The sparkling shape of the 27-year-old player in the Romanian elite league at the moment only means he could be lucky again.

It, therefore, came as little surprise when Coach Claude Le Roy and his crew invited him into the Stars 40-man provisional squad ahead of the Ghana 2008 Nations Cup in January.

Out of this number, 26 will pitch camp in Dubai from January 3 to 16, after which the final 23 will be settled on for the three-week feast of continental football.

'I am really excited to be back in the team, and will grab the opportunity with both hands.

'Luckily for me, I am in great shape and hope to repay the confidence reposed in me by the handlers,' Hamza told Times Sports on his arrival to Ghana last week.

The former RTU, Asante Kotoko and King Faisal utility player was voted the Best Foreign Player in the still-running Romanian league, after thrice winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards for his club - FC Ceahlaul.

A prominent figure in Romania, Hamza has played in all 18 league games including two Euro Cup ties since joining the newly-promoted side.

At present, the Ghanaian has a two-year contract with Ceahlaul with an option to move out in the face of a more lucrative offer.

The experienced full-house midfielder is hopeful of making Ghana’s final squad, while describing the Stars’ group as cagey 'but surmountable.'

Ghana clash with Guinea in the opening game of Group A on January 20. Other opponents in the group are Namibia and Morocco.