The Friday Encounter: Razak Nuhu denies Ghana fans comments, claims Kwarasey is good enough for Ghana first choice role and discusses Man City future

Razak Nuhu with Nana Boateng celebrate their title

By Akyereko Frimpong Manson
Follow me on Twitter: @Akyereko
The young Manchester City defender has won his first major career silverware after winning the Norwegian Tippeligaen title with Stromsgodset.

During the season he made few appearances for the Drammen-based side in their historic title triumph but still revels in the victory.

He speaks on a wider range of issues insisting Adam Kwarasey should be Ghana's first choice keeper while taking a swipe at journalist Gary Al-Smith for a report in 2012.

Enjoy the Friday Encounter with the former Ghana U20 defender.

You have won your first major career trophy after winning the Norwegian top-flight league with Stromsgodset. How historic is this for you as a young player?

Yea is a very big history to me and to the club.
The season went with 30 games but you played a few number of them for Stromsgodset yet you celebrated big time. Do you feel excited with the season after playing such a few number of games?

The club hasn't won the league in like 47 years until now. And, Nana [Bismark Adjei-Boateng] and I also being the first RtD players to win a league title is enough to make me feel very happy.

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Nuhu arrives back at Man City
It is every player's dream to win gold medals in their career so I'm happy for what I've achieved in the last two years – finishing as runners-up last season and winning the ultimate this season is great.

Last season I played almost every game for the club and I proved to the coach why he should have played me this season but he did and partly due to injuries I missed a lot of games. But I believe that everything happens for a reason.

Why did you play such a fewer number of games in an entire season at club level? As a defender before you can get anywhere you must play consistently but you didn't. Why?

I'm not too happy for not playing much but am very happy for what I have achieved. As I said in the beginning of the league I was starting then the coach started putting me on the bench and I try to prove him wrong but still things couldn't change and the situation got sticky with injuries and I fell out of favour.

Your team-mates Adam Kwarasey and Nana Boateng played such an influential role in the title winning campaign. Didn't you feel bad watching from the bench and sometimes even in the stands while they were playing actively and getting involved?

 
http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Kwarasey-Nuhu-and-Nana-Boateng.jpg

Kwarasey, Nuhu -left, and Nana Boateng
I'm not in a rush because I still have my contract with Manchester City. So if things don't go on well for me in Godset, it might go on well for me in some other place.

Yea I wasn't feeling too bad because I understand how football is you know. I was playing every single game and Nana [Bismark] was sitting on the bench. Football is about time and it's his time so I guess I don't need to feel bad but to concentrate on how I could get back into the starting team and as I said, I believe everything happens for a reason.

Do you feel your club won the title on merit or the opposition you faced in the season was not stiffer enough? Stromsgodset had to wait till the final minutes of the season to know whether they were going to be declared champions of Norway.

I think we deserved winning the league. We were leading Rosenborg by a point with three games remaining and our last game was at home and we were not playing against one of the best teams and that made us very confident of winning the title.

http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Razak-Nuhu-in-a-debut-game-for-Ghana-against-China.jpg

Razak Nuhu in a debut game for Ghana against China

Kwarasey was your general captain and manned the post in all 30 games and Nana too. At 19 he played 17 times and scored 7 times including some goals in the Europa League. How would you describe their performance? And do you think Kwarasey should be Ghana's first choice?

Yes! I think Kwarasey and Nana had a wonderful season together, especially Nana [Bismark] scoring 7 goals only is just amazing.

You think Kwarasey should be the Ghana number one because he kept the post in all 30 games?

For the performance he has been outing in at the club side, yes I think he should be the number one for Ghana. He's a great keeper.

You have currently travelled to England, Manchester to be precise. What are you doing there? And what's your fate with Stromsgodset after the end of the season. Are staying or leaving?

Uuhhm… (He hesitates) Yea I'm in Manchester now because the season in Norway is finished and I need to go back to my club and train for a while before I get my holiday. My contract is finished with Godset and as at now I don't know what's going to happen with Godset because they've to talk to City if they need me but my plan is to leave the club and move on but as at now I don't know where I'll be heading next season.

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Nuhu
Kwesi Appiah invited you to the Ghana national team twice and you played against China in an international friendly. Why have you been out of the team? Do you think your exclusion is justified?

No one knows why I'm out of the team but I believe I will be part of the team soon. It's just a matter of time.

And within the period of your invitation, before a game in Accra, you were reported to have attacked local fans for their so-called 'loud-mouth' and impatience. Did you say this to Gary Al-Smith – the journalist who reported the story and why did you do that?

Never said nothing to anyone like that.
In your opinion what sort of journalist is he if he cooks up stories and put them online for people to attack innocent players.

I won't attack him or use any word to describe him but what I will say is that he should try and be real to people and to himself and not trying to fake up stories.

And you think his report has had any influences in your international fortunes because after those reported comments you have not been called back into the team again.

Noo… I don't think so.
What is the future for Razak Nuhu? Are you still a Manchester City player?

Is not just my time yet, that's how I feel. Yea of course I'm Man city player. The future is to play in one of the big leagues and I think I'm still young and I've my contract with City so there is no need to rush now.

Thank you very much for your time and GSN wishes you the best in your career.

You're welcome bro.