The 1998/99 Season Start - African Players in Germany

THE 1998/99 SEASON START

African Players Germany

What happened to the players introduced last season, some new names...

This is a component of	AFRICAN PLAYERS TO WATCH IN GERMANY
by	THE SHOT THAT PASSED RIGHT THROUGH THE NET

This is not a complete list of players as it is difficult to trace all players. Many clubs let players play in their second team in lower leagues first and those names are only to find in regional papers. An official list by the football association would help but there is none.

The number one player of last year, Bashirou Salou (Togo), has had a good start into the season personally. He became a regular starter right away although a lot of class players are in competition for a place among the first eleven of Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund as a team had another disappointing start, they are closer relegation zone with 4 points after 5 matches, 11 points behind the top team Bayern. Ibrahim Tanko, the Ghanaian talent, after injury ridden years, had a few appearances himself. But the Dortmund squad is huge and they do not play European cup, so many stars will be disappointed not playing often.

In the Association Cup, Dortmund survived a scare, when they beat 3rd division team 1.FC Saarbrücken on penalties. Most conspicious player and goal scorer for Saarbrücken was Sambo Choji from Nigeria. The second Nigerian for Saarbrücken, capped player Stephen Musa, has recovered from Malaria and plays again. Saarbrücken has disappointed in the league and already fired the coach.

At VfB Stuttgart we have another team, that did not manage to perform up to the expectations yet. 3 African players look like they could become often seen this year. Pablo Thiam (Guinea) has been the most convincing yet, usually lined up as a defender. Jonathan Akpoborie (Nigeria, last years number 2 player) had some injury troubles and is not yet back in the shape known. A new South African player made a promising debut and one has to see whether he can keep up that good impression: Brendan Carnell, 21, came from Kaizer Chiefs and benefited from injury problems in the Stuttgart squad.

Hany Ramzy of Egypt was joined by Samir Ibrahim, his friend from Al Ahly Cairo to build a new defence at German champions 1.FC Kaiserslautern. Yet they have not convinced the critics although Kaiserslautern has had a decent start. Pascal Ojigwe (Nigeria) is practising with the professionals and close to the team but not yet among the first eleven, what is a more fixed thing at Kaiserslautern. Almost every week Ojigwe is one of the top players in Kaiserslautern second team in 3rd division. He will be seen in the first team sooner or later.

Anthony Yeboah (Ghana), Hamburger SV, harshly criticised last year, returned from the summer break as well shaped athlete and has found somnething of his old form. An unexpected but appreciated comeback.

Yasser Radwan (Egypt), Hansa Rostock, is a regular force but the club has had a shaky start. The Nigerian talent Victor Agali, tall striker, 19 years old, came from Toulon (France), who scored some goals in preperation matches, did not play much yet because the regular striker Igor Pamic (Croatia) is in brilliant form.

At Bayern München the Ghanaian talents Samuel Kuffour and Christian Saba find it difficult even to play for minutes. The new coach Ottmar Hitzfeld prefers the known German National team giants and has a very big and healthy squad to select from. Kuffour is rumoured to wish to join his former coach Trappatoni (who had lined up him often and educated him personally) at Firenze, Italy. Meanwhile Saba is one of the most conspicious players of the second team of Bayern, who play at 3rd division.

Alphonse Tchami (Cameroon, Hertha BSC), Abderrahim Ouakili (Morocco, Munich 1860), Deiron Buckley (South Africa, VfL Bochum) are regularly playing while Miguel Peirreira (Angola, Schalke 04), though coming closer, is only used seldomly.

The newly promoted SC Freiburg has the most African players in Bundesliga: five! Zoubeir Beya and Mehdi Ben Slimane were joined by their Tunisian compatriot Adel Sellimi. Also there are two young players from Mali: defender Boubacar Diarra and forward Gaoussou Diallo. Only Diallo does never play because he had terrible bad luck with injuries since he joined Freiburg with his compatriot in summer 1997. The other four play quite often although they are not all regular starters. Freiburg, a young team known for their cooperative ball control style introduced by succesful coach Volker Finke, had a good start into the season, so they all will be quite satisfied.

Charles Akonnor (Ghana, came from 2nd division Fortuna Köln) has been one of the most convincing players for his club VfL Wolfsburg yet, but the results have not been to well.

In the second division ('2.Bundesliga') the not long ago here prognosted future stars (see 97/98 archives) Gerald Asamoah, Otto Addo, and Babacar N'Dyaie have had a good start with their newly promoted team Hannover 96. Highlight was the 6:1 thrashing of just relegated favorites 1.FC Köln when the trio scored 5 of the 6 goals!
Outstanding player yet have been Daniel Addo (defender, Ghana) for Fortuna Düsseldorf, and Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien (midfield, Karlsruher SC), respected and reliable defender again Moudachirou Amadou (Benin) of Cottbus.