Ghana's World Cup Fight Begins Today

The dogfight for a place in Ghana's team for the 2010 World Cup has started with a poll of over fifty players seeking a place in coach Milovan Rajevac's squad. Today's friendly against Bosnia marks the beginning of the selection process towards the tournament in South Africa in June but the game in Sarajevo is only the start. The performance of the players during the three-day training with the Serbian coach, on the pitch during the game and their performance when they return to their clubs will determine who will grab a shirt to the first World Cup to be hosted in Africa. A player's ability to play strictly according to Rajevac's instructions, show commitment in Ghana's jersey, disciplined and crucially talent will ensure a place in the Ghana team. But there are some players whose places in the team are almost sealed - some are less certain while some have got a fighting chance of making the Black Stars final 23 squad. The players who look certain for the World Cup are - Richard Kingston, John Paintsil, Samuel Inkoom, Hans Sarpei, David Addy, Lee Addy, Eric Addo, John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah. The others are Michael Essien, Anthony Annan, Agyemang Badu, Kevin Prince Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah, Laryea Kingston, Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari, Andre Ayew, Asamoah Gyan, Prince Tagoe and Matthew Amoah. There are some in that list who are on the injury list or waiting for Fifa clearance to play for Ghana and their place in the squad will only be certain if they are fit enough to play in the tournament. This leaves few spots in the team with some players like Haminu Dramani, Quincy Owusu Abeyie, Ibrahim Ayew Derek Boateng, Dominic Adiyiah, Jonathan Mensah, Eric Bekoe, Moussa Narry and hanging in the balance. Those whose chances are hanging by a thread are Bernard Kumordzi, Yaw Antwi, Ransford Osei, Prince Buaben, Nana Asare and Harrison Afful. Fans� favourite Junior Agogo looks to have played himself out of the national team because of two catastrophic decisions he made by moving to Egypt and Cyprus. The former England-based player was considered among one of the key players in the team until he opted for the money to sign for Zamalek where he was frustrated and failed to impress. With an option to play in the German Bundesliga he once again chased the cash by moving to Cyprus where he has so far failed to impress putting Bekoe, the leading scorer in Egypt, ahead of him in the pecking order. While Kingson has cemented his place at the first choice keeper, Philemon McCarthy and Daniel Agyei face a potential threat from Spanish second division side Poli Ejido shot-stopper Razak Braimah. The former Nania FC keeper could make a late bid for a place in the Black Stars as well as William Amamoo and George Owuo. In the all these possibilities there are always places in the team because some of players likely to be first choice are injury-prone. As the recent Africa Cup of Nations showed several players could be ruled out because of injury but crucially performance at the club level could be a reason for a place at the World Cup.