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Derek Boateng Reveals How Playing In Israel Cost Him A Place In Black Stars

Football News Derek Boateng Reveals How Playing In Israel Cost Him A Place In Black Stars
JUL 7, 2020 LISTEN

Former Ghana midfielder, Derek Boateng has revealed that playing in Israel resulted in him losing his place in the Black Stars.

Boateng joined Beitar Jerusalem in Israel from AIK, a Swedish top-flight club.

The 37-year-old helped the club to win the league for the fifth time in their history, and for the first time for 10 years, contributing four goals in the campaign.

According to him, his move to the Israeli club cost him playing in the African Cup of Nations in 2008 and the Black Stars as a whole.

“After the World Cup, I was expecting that the players who represented the country have to report back to the team but it didn’t happen. I think we destroy our tournament squad a little too early and we need to try and maintain the same squad for some time so there will be cohesion in the squad," he told Joy FM.

He also disclosed that after the 2006 World Cup the team expected him to move to a bigger European side.

"I saw that after the tournament, I moved to Israel but people were expecting me to move to any of the top leagues in Europe. And that was the era where most of our players were playing in the top-flight leagues. But I think moving to Israel was the reason why the coach dropped me because I don’t see why he should drop me”.

The former Black Stars midfielder made over 40 appearances for the national team and scored just a goal.

He has played for several clubs including Panathinaikos in Greece and Getafe in Spain among other clubs.

Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah
Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah

Sports JournalistPage: SamuelEkowAmoasiAppiah

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