By: Sheikh Tophic Sienu @desheikh1
One player who has suddenly dominated the headlines is Inter Allies winger Evans Mensah after earning a late call up into the Black Stars.
Of course, one man’s meat is another man’s poison and so as David Accam withdraws from the squad due to injury, Evans Mensah’s door to stardom appears opened.
Born on February 9, 1998, in Swedru in the Eastern Region, Evans’ dream of becoming a great footballer cinched closer to a reality when he was poached by Right To Dream Academy.
Played for Right To Dream Academy: Shaping the rough edges of Evan’s talent started at one of the most prominent and fastest growing football academies in Ghana, Right To Dream Academy. Many Ghanaians were lost when the name popped up, asking where Evans is coming from but the secret is that, Evans attended the same academy that nurtured Majeed Waris, and David Accam both of the Black Stars, and Yaw Yeboah and Kinsley Fobih of the 2015 U20 side that played in New Zealand.
Played second fiddle to Frederick Yamoah last season: Evans joined Inter Allies last season from Right To Dream Academy but played second fiddle to experienced Frederick Yamoah despite his readiness and zeal to play. Evans was always brought on from the bench getting to the dying embers of the game when he joined the ambitious Tema side last season. He is hugely remembered for scoring the brilliant equalizer against WAFA last season at the Red Bull Arena last season.
Won three MVPs in four matches: There is no doubt that Evans has suddenly risen to the high echelons of Ghana football. He is one of the players who has lightened the Ghana Premier League with his dazzling speed and swift dribbling skills. Evans has played four matches for Inter Allies and has won the Most Valuable Player award on three occasions. He was the MVP when Inter Allies won 2-0 against Aduana Stars in Tema, won it again when they drew 2-2 with Dreams FC and went ahead to win it even when they lost to Hearts of Oak in that great 3-2 comeback by the Phobians.
Appeared in Ghanasoccerenet.com Team of the Week thrice: Appearing in the team of the week of the biggest football website in West Africa, GHANAsoccernet.com, on three occasions, gave a strong signal of the kind of player Evans is. Incredibly, just like the number of times he has won the MVP, Evans has appeared in the team of the week on three occasions out the four times he has played this season. Already tipped to be a key contender of the best player of the season award, the 18-year old has shown enough promise to be the best even though the league is still at the infant stage.
The quest to impress: Educational Psychologist have always maintained that the readiness of a student to learn is always vital to the progress of that student in a particular field. And Evans has shown readiness to impress and that is exactly what he us doing. The zeal in the youngster to impress has been one of the major reasons for the high attendance at Tema during matches involving Inter Allies. His confidence level has been lauded by the head coach of Inter Allies his readiness to impress has always done the trick.