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17.05.2005 Football News

Ofori-Quaye Poised For Big Comeback

17.05.2005 LISTEN
By 50296098

FORMER national top striker, Peter Ofori-Quaye, is expected to make a long-awaited return to competitive action this weekend when Liberty Professionals play Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord in a potential fireworks at the Swedru Stadium.

Ofori-Quaye, a one-time precocious striker for the Black Stars and a star of Greek top side Olympiakos, is ready to restart his career in the GT Premiership after nearly two years on the sidelines after being struck with a career-threatening injury that twice went under the surgeon's knife.

On Sunday the young striker will spearhead a rampaging Liberty attack following the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate to help facilitate his registration as a Liberty player.

The striker's imminent return to competitive action, and likely partnership with Michael Osei, is a potential nightmare for opposing defenders but a big boost for Liberty who have made an audacious target of winning the premiership championship this season.

Liberty are already looking potential title contenders after scoring nine goals in their last two games that have made the Dansoman-based side the highest scoring team in the league so far — 11 goals in five games.

After another home rout last Sunday which saw Osei score twice and created another goal in Liberty's 4-0 rout of Sekondi Hasaacas in Accra, coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio plans to unleash onto the league a three-prong attack force of Ofori-Quaye, Osei and Michael Helegbe who has scored two goals in as many matches.

In fact, Osei's man-of-the match performance and eye for goals tickled coach Attuquayefio's ego as he waxed lyrical about his ability to see what others don't see. “It proves that Jones has a good eye and a good nose for good players. I went for a good player and that's what we are seeing,” the coach said of the ex-Asante Kotoko striker.

And it seems the 'Scientific Soccer' lads are spoilt for choice with regard to strikers as they are also flirting with a Nigerian striker from Dolphin FC who is in town for trial.

There are also gangling striker Felix Baffoe, young Kofi Nti (younger brother of Black Stars and Arminia Bielefeld's Isaac Boakye) and injured offensive-midfielder David Boateng whose return would further give coach Attuquayefio more attacking options.

Liberty have lost both away matches this season and their technical director admits that they are far from playing at their full potential, and a lot more work has to be done before they can be considered the finished article.

“I cannot say that we've reached the top just yet. A lot more work has to be done and we are taking it one match at a time because this is a marathon race,” he said.

The defence may not present much of a problem and Liberty are not considering any new reinforcements yet.

An astronomical price tag of ¢250 million demanded by Asante Kotoko has led to the dwindling of their interest in national goalie, Goerge Owu. Liberty have also denied any intention to sign Kotoko's back-to-batan defender Aziz Ansah who has been linked with a move to the Dansoman side.

Liberty's chairman, Mr Felix Ansong, admitted to the Graphic Sports that they were interested in out-of-favour Owu but Kotoko's demand “was too high a transfer fee for a goalkeeper”, for which reason they backed out of the transaction.

And with the presence of Black Satellites goalie Patrick Antwi and able second choice Kotel Blankson Liberty, were convinced that splashing out ¢250 million for Owu was not the most prudent investment to make.

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