At a time Ghana is suffering to find a competent goal scorer, a diminutive, lightning quick forward continues to star in the Tertiary Football League.
Accra Technical University Striker Bernard Mensah is the crown jewel of a fluid attacking side that leads the competition’s Southern Zone with two wins in three games.
Despite possessing a wealth of attacking threats including Prince Disu and Kouassi Dieu, Mensah remains the headline act for Accra Technical.
He leads the scoring chart with five goals in three games and is riding a hot streak of form that has seen him bag two hat tricks in as many games for ATU. Combining his physical traits with a sharp eye for goal, the “Black Pearl” can be spotted several times over in a game making darting runs into the box and reading game scenarios way before they play out.
The ground breaking event organized by Rite Sports has the development of talent to feed various national teams at its core mandate, already has a prospective national team player.
After watching Ghana’s Under 20 side fail to qualify to the Under 20-World Cup which took place early this year, Mensah stands out as an early candidate for a call up with the team set for African qualifiers next year. Scoring five in three is a great stat but the variety of his goals sticks out prominently in his play.
His first in the tournament was from the penalty spot which came via a 2-2 result against arch rival and host institute University of Ghana.
That was followed by two goals against Marshalls University College with the first coming from a close strike to the near post in the first half and simple tap in from close range to finish off Marshalls.
His run into the box perfectly met Dieu’s cross from the left. Mensah repeated the goal dose this time against All Nations University College over the past weekend; the goals were the only ones registered in the game to condemn All Nations to its second straight loss in the competition.
Capitalizing on a defensive mix up, Mensah run through on goal to score in the first half and completed the brace with a sublime free kick; a spot kick, tap in, close range strike, free kick and finishing off predatory moves highlight the complete package Mensah is.
Competition keeps springing up with every passing moment in the exciting tournament and the recent exploits of Ghana Technology University College duo George Richardson and Mawuli Agator suggests Mensah will be matched the whole way in the race for the competition’s top scorer award. Richardson bagged the tournament’s first ever hat trick in Ghana Technology’s 4-1 demolition of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration over the weekend.
Strike partner Mawuli Agato scored a brace in another 4 goal drubbing this time to Marshalls University College. With both men out to topple Mensah off the chart’s summit, Mensah will be in the wars again this weekend against All Nations as he seeks to put daylight between him and his closest rivals.
After a slow start to life in the Tertiary League, Mensah and Accra Technical University are at par with hefty expectations heading to a second game against All Nations on Saturday. Beating the profligate Koforidua-based side gives Accra Technical the best chance to maintain the lead in the Southern Zone ahead of crunch ties against Ghana Technology.
Bernard Mensah’s goals will be crucial to maintain his side’s impressive run in the league thus far. With more years to fine tune his prodigious talent, Bernard Mensah is definitely one to keep an eye on for greater feats.