The Friday Encounter - Lokeren prodigy Eugene Ansah talks about his exploits in Belgium and discusses his ambitions as a young footballer

Published on: 01 November 2013
The Friday Encounter - Lokeren prodigy Eugene Ansah talks about his exploits in Belgium and discusses his ambitions as a young footballer
Ansah with Lokeren team-mate

Ghanaian youth star Eugene Ansah who gives KSC Lokeren creative options with his precocious instincts joins GSN’s Akyereko Frimpong Manson on the Friday Encounter.

Learn more about the former Liberty Professionals Academy graduate whose tender age has not been a barrier for him for his early progress.

At just 18, Ansah has already gatecrashed the Lokeren first team squad impressing manager Peter Maes to include him in his 18-man squad for their past two games in the Pro League. Breaking into the first team squad of an enterprising side like Lokeren demands a lot of talent, skill, will and desire as well as hard work. And the versatile young forward proved that with the second team last season. “Last year I scored about 10 goals and this season I have scored one goal out of 6 games but I have been played out of position so I’m mostly reduced to performing the job of an architect to set up goals. But when the goals come, I score them myself.”

Holding down his place in the first team for two Matchdays running for sure remains a cherishable getting for Ansah but he feels there is more he could to earn a mark at Lokeren.

Ansah has memories of his time at Liberty Professionals
Ansah, left, has memories of his time at Liberty Professionals
“It’s really a great feeling to be there I was just playing for the second side and things changed and I’m on the bench for the first team. For me it’s a great feeling for me and I feel proud. But it doesn’t end there. I have the vision to achieve greater things as a footballer and I feel I must push harder and start playing in big games. That’s only then that I can start dreaming big.”

The ever exciting chatty and open-minded youngster talks about his positional play and his abilities on the field.

“I’m a standing 9, a typical center-forward who’s cast to harass defenders but I also mostly play on the wings because I have the speed, trickery and the technique to succeed there.”

After a somewhat rather short but exciting spell at Liberty Professionals where he played along Kennedy Ashia, Ebenezer Assifuah, Muniru Sulley ‘Sariki’ and Michael Helegbe, the youngster admits the pedigree and the star names that have come out of the Dansoman-based side simply inspire him.

“My motivation is been the people around me my mom my uncle and of course the great players Liberty have produced. They inspire me anytime when I see them playing and anytime they came to train with us when I was at Liberty.”

The young striker did not just arrive at Lokeren after leaving the shores of Ghana. He had to trial out with clubs before he finally got spotted in a country his mother lives.

He trained along Sulley Muntari at the Carl Reindorf Park
He trained along Sulley Muntari at the Carl Reindorf Park anytime the AC Milan star comes down to Accra.
“I moved to Norway for trials and later came to Belgium because my mom lives and luckily I got picked by Lokeren and I’m trying to make my mark here. I want to be a great footballer and play at the next U20 World Cup with my country – Ghana.”

Lokeren is one club on the rising in Belgium and posited themselves to contend for the title with big-guns Standard Liege and Anderlecht. Though he dreams big of joining one of Europe’s top clubs, the starlet has no immediate plans of leaving the club but rather to harness his talent.

“Yes every player wants to play at the highest level but for now I’m just focusing and working hard for the opportunity I have been given here by Lokeren.”

Ansah expected to make his official debut for the Lokeren first team in the coming days with his show of promise and talent.

Catch our next edition next Friday.

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