FEATURE: Picking a Ghana Star Sixes Dream Team

Published on: 18 July 2017
FEATURE: Picking a Ghana Star Sixes Dream Team
Tony Yeboah

The ongoing Star Sixes legends tournament in London has brought together some of sport's greatest names from the last 20 years to contest a competitive six-a-side tournament at the O2 Arena.

For the inaugural event, Nigeria were Africa's only representatives, but considering what a success the tournament has been, don't be surprised to see another - potentially extended - edition next year.

In 12 months' time, we'd love to see greater African representation at the world's only competitive six-a-side legends tournament, and one nation we particularly want to see pitch up against some international greatest from yesteryear is Ghana.

In this feature, we propose a dream potential Black Stars Star Sixes team for next year's event.

Joe Carr: Considering Richard Kingson is still playing and thus ineligible for this tournament, and with John Baker and Robert Mensah sadly passed on, Carr gets the nod between the sticks. The stopper was a two-time African Cup of Nations winner, starting in the 1978 tournament before losing his spot to Michael Owusu Mensah four years later.

After subsequently working as a goalkeeper coach for Real Sociedad, Asante Kotoko and Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs, he should be in pretty good nick.

Sammy Kuffour: In Thursday's opening victory over England, Carles Puyol proved the value of an imposing, dogged centre-back, and in Kuffour, Ghana could also call on their own defensive rock.

The 40-year-old enjoyed a successful 12-year spell at Bayern Munich - no other African player can look back on such a long tenure with one of Europe's genuine giants - and won four German cups, six titles and the Champions League in 2001.

Abedi Pele: Having enjoyed his best years in the early 1990s, Pele would be one of the older stars competing at the Star Sixes. However, he's only three years older than England's Paul Merson, and younger than Denmark's John Sivebaek.

The attacker is one of the greatest African players in history, and won the Nations Cup with the Black Stars in 1982.

What are the odds on one of his Premier League sons - Jordan or Andre Ayew - turning out to support him?

John Paintsil: Only recently retired after several years playing in South Africa with Santos and Maritzburg United, 36-year-old Paintsil would surely still have a lot to offer a Black Stars selection now.

His versatility would be a massive asset in a tournament such as this, while the Berekum-born utility player boasts considerable experience after winning 89 caps and enjoying six years in English football with West Ham United, Fulham and Leicester City.

Stephen Appiah: The current Black Stars assistant coach is one of the greatest players ever produced by the West African nation.

Admittedly, injury arguably meant the world never quite saw the best of StepApp, but when fit, he was a forceful, dynamic central midfielder who boasted immense technical qualities.

Imagine Appiah going toe-to-toe with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Michael Ballack.

Anthony Yeboah: Star Sixes goalkeepers would be terrified by the prospect of Yeboah lacing up his boots once again to compete in a legends tournament. The powerful frontman was known for his capacity to net sensational wondergoals - just ask fans of Leeds United or Eintracht Frankfurt.

Yeboah was twice the Bundesliga top scorer, and his firepower up front would surely help the Black Stars trouble the world's best veterans.

Ed Dove, KweséESPN

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