South Africa 2010 - 11 Days More Stars List Out

Richard Kingson - Remains Ghana's safest pair of hands

Midfielder Laryea Kingston was among the big casualties when Ghana’s Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac released his final squad of Black Stars players for the South Africa 2010 World Cup party.

Also given the chop were 32-year-old defensive midfielder, Eric Addo of Dutch side Roda JC Kerkrade, and Haminu Dramani, both members of the Germany 2006 World Cup squad; Greece-based midfielder Prince Kumordzi and Stephen Adams, the best goalkeeper in the just-ended Glo Premier League.

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, hero of Ghana’s Under-20 World Cup triumph, who was seen as a fitting replacement for injured midfield kingpin Michael Essien, also missed the South Africa boat after the Udinese midfielder also failed the fitness test.

Generally, there were few surprises, with Kevin-Prince Boateng, who has never featured for Ghana, making the squad alongside the Ayew brothers, Rahim and Andre, and Italy-based defender, Jonathan Mensah, who was an unused reserve during the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola.

Rajevac stuck to his trusted captain, Stephen Appiah, who had suffered a dip in form after a long battle with injury, and selected 10 members of the Germany 2006 squad, as well as six players of the Black Satellites side which won the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

The perfectly balanced squad includes three home-based players, all defenders, and represents a fine blend of experienced players and gifted youngsters such as Andre Ayew, FC Basle’s Samuel Inkoom and AC Milan’s striker Dominic Adiyiah, the world’s best youth player.

Other players making it to South Africa 2010 include goalkeepers Daniel Agyei of Liberty professionals and Stephen Ahorlu of Kpando Heart of Lions; Lee Addy of Bechem Chelsea, Derek Boateng, Matthew Amoah and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, who makes a return to the national team after more than a year’s absence since Rajevac took over the reins of the team in 2008.

Laryea’s omission is a crushing blow for the midfielder who, at 30 and in the twilight of his career, may not have age on his side to feature in any future World Cup tournament.

Four years ago, suspension during the Egypt 2006 Nations Cup knocked out the midfielder from Ghana’s maiden appearance in football’s biggest global gathering in Germany and the dreadlocked star had pledged to fight for his place at Africa’s first World Cup which commences in Johannesburg on June 11.

Laryea’s elder brother, Richard Kingson, remains Ghana’s safest pair of hands in spite of the lack of playing time with English Premiership side, Wigan Athletic. At 32, Kingson is Ghana’s most capped player of all time, featuring in 77 matches, with one goal, scored in an international friendly with Tanzania two years ago, to his credit.

Below is Ghana’s full squad:
Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan, England), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals, Ghana), Stephen Aholu (Heart of Lions, Ghana).

Defenders: John Paintsil (Fulham, England), John Mensah (Sunderland, England), Samuel Inkoom (FC Basle, Switzerland), Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea, Ghana), Isaac Vorsah (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), Jonathan Mensah (Udinese, Italy).

Milfielders: Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Sulley Muntari (Internazionale, Italy), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Al-Sadd, Qatar), Stephen Appiah (Bologna, Italy), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France), Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain).

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Stade Rennes, France), Prince Tagoe (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan, Italy), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland).