Ghana striker Ransford Osei has failed to meet expectations after explosive displays at the FIFA Under-17 and 20 tournaments in 2007 and 2009.
But the former FC Twente is not giving up yet as he has promised to fight back and replenish the lost hopes of many.
In an interview with the Captivating Ghana Sports Newspaper, he also talks about his next career move as well his vision of joining the Black Stars squad.
Below are excerpts.
Welcome to The Interview Ransford Osei and thank you for joining us.
Thank you.
First of all let me ask you how the season went with Bloemfontein Celtic in the South Africa Premier League? Though you made quite a number of few appearances you were able to score once.
I can say by the grace of God things wasn't so bad. I had the chance to play some games though I didn't score some much goals as I was expecting, I scored once and that was not good enough but it was okay for me because for a very long time I had not been playing any competitive game so that opportunity I got there I think was a very great opportunity for me.
We understand that Bloemfontein Celtic was a short-term contract and the club was using to assess your performance, can you say that you are going to stay with the club or you are going to move back to Europe?
Well the plan was to play a short-term contract at South Africa to pick back my form and move to Europe but after the six months contract I think. SO I have discussed with my agent that the playing time wasn't so much okay for me. Honestly I think I need more playing time to assess my fitness now and boost my confidence. My agent was saying that I should go back to Europe but I told him that I need more playing in the South African league to become fully fit. We have reached an agreement on that and I'm staying for a short-term contract again.
Before moving to South Africa, you had had a lot of trials and moves, one of them is Granada FC in Spain. What actually happened at Granada?
Granada was one of the most terrible moments in my career in my career. At the beginning, things were very good for me but it got to a time training with the first team became very hard for me. The coach didn't like me and to top it all I had an injury which condemned everything for me and I was very downhearted. I can say Granada was a bad luck in my career that season.
After Granada FC, we went for trials with Hungarian side Videoton FC. We understand you nearly sealed a move to the club, what went wrong?
Videoton would have been a very good move because the coach and everybody at the club liked me very much after some few weeks of training. The coach told me that he was very impressed with me and he wanted me at the club. But my agent and the club couldn't reach a financial agreement so that is why things couldn't work.
FC Twente!
Hahaha (laughs). FC Twente was my first move to a popular club in Europe and I would say it was one of the terrible moments for me as well. It was Steve McLaren who was at the club. He watched me at the U20 World Cup and was very impressed with me. And you know after the tournament there were lots of clubs who wanted me but my agent assured me that the club was going to sign me because McLaren was very interested in me. We won the league and McLaren left the club and that was the end of it. I was on loan and club didn't sign me again.
Before joining FC Twente you were with Israeli side Maccabi Haifa and at that place you were considered one of the best talents in the league. Most Ghanaian players made it in Israeli but yours became silent. What happened with Maccabi Haifa?
It was my first move abroad and I was doing very well there. I had more playing time but it was my agent. He thought the time was ripe for a move to a big club in Europe and I move to FC Twente on loan.
I don't have any trick that helps me to score for the national team but the thing is, when I was a kid I always dreamt of playing for my national team so when I had the chance with the U17, I gave it my all and that was the results you see on the pitch when I put on the Ghana jersey. Anytime I hear the jersey, I will score and that is for sure. I don't work for the nation in halves; always in full length. At the national team, we play two tops and that suits me very well but in Europe, you don't get it like that; no striking partner so maybe that could be attributed to it.
Are you used as a winger instead of the leading man at club level and has this affected you in any way?
It is true because in Europe before you will be picked as a leading marksman you must be someone with a huge stature and if you are diminutive, you are definitely going to be played from the wings or midfield to cut in to supply for the main man. That is what has been happening to me in Europe so that is quite true.
You were part of the Olympic squad that failed to win against Sudan in away and we couldn't team them. What went wrong for the team?
We were not fortunate in the game plus we had already lost the first leg on home soil. Officiating was also not the best for the team so things didn't go well. We put them under a lot of pressure because we knew we had to win the game and they scored through a free kick. I had the injury and I was replaced and the entire job fell on my striking partner. We equalised but things were late for us.
Most of your play-mates at the U20 World Cup are in the Black Stars squad, someone is asking when is Randy coming to the Black Stars, are you sort of bidding your time?
There is no rushing in football same as life. As long as we have life and have the strength there's no need to rush we have to take our time. Those in the team deserve to be in the team and they are there. We saw the last time in Kumasi it was fantastic. I'm not thinking about the Black Stars now what is on my mind is get back to Europe, play regularly and see what goes.
Do you still have good memories of the Egypt tournament?
Yeah. It was a combination of hard work and team work that ensured us the victory. It started from the Nations Cup in Rwanda and I remember vividly when we arrived at the hotel in Rwanda the messages put across by Mr Jordan Anagbla about our mission in the country. It was an inspiring moment and the spirit lived with us till we delivered the ultimate.
After the World Cup you were rated one of the best young strikers in the world, has Ransford Osei become a failure?
I always thank God for where he took me at that level. There were many strikers who were very good but didn't get the chance but God gave it to me and I thank him for that. As I said already, in this world there's no rush. I believe I would become the striker the world tipped me to be.
Mr Randy, your last words.
I want Ghanaians to pray for me to return to my best and help the nation because I love to score for the country anytime I play. I have been frustrated with club but I know things will be okay with their prayers and support.