THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014 SPORTS Ghana’s Accam goes from non-league to World Cup GHANA: As his country Ghana marched “I’m playing really well,” Accam told Evesham United, Accam left England in your country - (Sulley) Muntari, soccer. He is friendly but cautious as to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals in Reuters in Stockholm before he joined in 2012 and came to Sweden, where (Asamoah) Gyan, (Andre) Ayew, he answers questions, careful not to South Africa, striker David Accam was up with the squad. “I think it’s one of my he joined third-tier side Ostersund. (Kevin-Prince) Boateng. I learnt a lot in say anything that could be taken out playing non-league football in England best seasons so far and I just need to It was there that his career took off that one week I was on the bench,” he of context but still full of self-belief. where even his electrifying pace was continue into the World Cup.” and nine goals in 14 games meant he said. One of several players often curtailed on the muddy pitches. Accam is as softly-spoken and friend- only stayed for a matter of months referred to by local media as “the Four years later, after a move to ly off the pitch as he is dangerous on it with the club before moving to DIFFICULT GROUP African Messi,” not surprisingly he sin- Sweden and a superb run of form for but his humility is not to be confused Helsingborgs in the Swedish top With Group G favourites Portugal gles out Portugal’s captain when asked Helsingborgs IF, the 23-year-old is on with a lack of self-confidence. He flight. and Germany bristling with world- who to look out for in Ghana’s section. the verge of representing Ghana at the believes he has earned his chance, The 500,000 euros ($684,800) trans- class talent, Ghana and the US will “Obviously Ronaldo. He is one of the World Cup in Brazil, where they face the although it is still a tall order to make fer fee was the highest ever paid for a have their work cut out to reach the best players in the world but Germany United States, Germany and Portugal in the final squad. player from the Swedish third tier. He last 16. But Accam has been doing his have a lot of good players also, such as Group G. “Yeah it’s difficult. I know my talent, I was due to be loaned back to homework in case he gets the chance (Philipp) Lahm, so it would be nice to Discovered on the gravel pitches of know I have the ability but I didn’t have Ostersund for the rest of the season to face either team. play against them,” he says. Accam’s Ghana’s capital Accra by the Right to the chance because of work permit but was recalled by Helsingborgs for a “Most of them (Germans and years of struggle in non-league foot- Dream Academy, which provides sports, problems in England,” he said. Champions League qualifying match Portuguese) play in the Champions ball have taught him to be patient and education and leadership training for “I had to come to Sweden to work against Celtic and stayed. League, so we’ve been watching that if he makes Ghana’s final squad he underprivileged young talent in Africa, my way up, but if you’re good enough Accam’s combination of searing every Tuesday and Wednesday. It won’t focus on using the World Cup to Accam has made the country’s provi- and you work hard you’ll get a chance, pace and clinical finishing saw him would be nice to play against them. put himself in the shop window. “For sional 26-man World Cup squad. and that’s what happened.” called up for Ghana’s World Cup quali- “It’s a difficult group but Ghana me it’s not about thinking about clubs. The 23-year-old’s speed has seen him fier against Sudan in March 2013 and have a lot of good players, and on a It’s about doing really well for my linked to some of the world’s top clubs, HIGHEST FEE even though he did not get to make good day we should be able to qualify country and lifting the name of Ghana like Manchester United and Borussia Having averaged better than a goal his debut on that occasion he was in from the group,” he says. higher,” he said. “That’s the main thing Dortmund, and the World Cup could every two games during his time at no way disappointed. “It was amazing, Accam is still getting used to his for me, and if I do that the other things provide his ticket to the big time. non-league sides Ledbury Town and playing with some of the best players new-found status as a hot property in will follow.” —Reuters Atletico inspired by spirit of Aragones

MADRID: Atletico Madrid face Real Madrid Even after clinching the title with a hard- in the Champions League final on Saturday fought 1-1 draw away to Barca on Saturday, attempting to put to bed one of the club’s Simeone thanked all those at the club who most painful nights. had helped bring about the success. Los Rojiblancos missed out on the Among that list he included Aragones, European Cup by a matter of seconds to who he said “was surely defending in our what became an all-conquering Bayern box during the second half.” Defeat to side 40 years ago. Bayern in the ‘74 final was not just heart- Bayern, featuring breaking. It helped mould a culture of pes- and Gerd Mueller, went on to win three simism around the club that was generally European Cups in a row, and yet they sustained despite the odd trophy for the almost never won the first, as they went following four decades. Yet, under the into the final minute of extra time 1-0 Simeone revolution, the tide is turning down. within the Spanish capital. The goal had been scored by Atletico’s Since the Argentine’s arrival two and a greatest player of all-time, Luis Aragones, half years ago, Atletico have won more tro- just six minutes from the end of extra time, phies than or Real Madrid. Far but the Spaniards were denied when from being the self-confessed “cursed -father of current Napoli goal- ones”, Atletico beat Real in their own back- keeper -let Hans-Georg yard to end a 14-year hoodoo in the Madrid Schwarzenbeck’s hopeful effort slip derby and win the Copa del Rey final little through his grasp. more than a year ago. The day after In the days before penalty shoot-outs, Aragones’ death, they went top of the Bayern went on to win 4-0 in the replay in league for the first time in 18 years and, Brussels just two days later. On Sunday an despite being briefly knocked off their estimated 200,000 Atletico Madrid fans perch, had the mental fortitude to get back SPAIN: Barcelona Sports director (left), Barcelona’s president (second left), Barcelona’s vice-presi- crowded round the Neptuno fountain and and stay there. dent Jordi Mestre (right) and (second right) shake hands during the official presentation as new coach of FC Barcelona at the Camp surrounding streets in the centre of the “The capacity to motivate comes from Nou stadium. —AP Spanish capital to celebrate their side’s first showing them the shirt of this club. The title in 18 years. However, amongst motivation is to play for Atletico Madrid chorus upon chorus of chanting, it wasn’t not against whoever is in front us,” says inspirational manager or Simeone. Enrique signs on as top scorer who was the most However, the chance to not only win prominent name, but that of Aragones. their first Champions League title but also The man who also coached Spain to the continue Real’s 12-year wait for their treas- first of three successive major tournament ured 10th European crown would be the Barcelona coach victories at the European Championship in strongest signal yet that the balance of 2008, died on February 1 this year aged 75. power has tipped to the red and white side Since then he has become an inspiration of Madrid. for arguably the most successful season in Yet, Atletico’s need is also urgent. Any BARCELONA: Former Barcelona player Luis month. Luis Enrique is the club’s eighth former . And he won’t be measured - at least not Atletico’s 111-year history. A picture of such power shift is likely to be fleeting. The Enrique signed a two-year contract to become captain to coach the club, joining such greats as immediately - against Guardiola, who won an Aragones adorned the plane that took the motivation to play for that shirt is complete coach yesterday, a hire the club hopes will Laszlo Kubala, Cesar Rodriguez, Cruyff and unprecedented six titles in his first season and players to the away leg of their Champions right now, but unlikely to last long as resemble the success stories of and Guardiola. 14 of a possible 19 in four years. League last-16 tie against AC Milan. Europe’s big spenders circle to pluck off . Although Luis Enrique was never in the same Luis Enrique acknowledged his other chal- their best players and possibly Simeone Luis Enrique signed the deal with club presi- class as them, he will be only the second former lenge is helping Messi rediscover the competi- ‘WIN, WIN AND WIN’ himself. dent Josep Bartomeu two days after it was captain to coach the club’s B side and first team. tive spirit that the club’s all-time leading scorer Once the seven-time European champi- Saturday’s date in represents announced by the club. That was two days after Guardiola is the other. appeared to lack during some matches after ons had been easily disposed of 5-1 on their best shot of European glory for 40 coach stepped down when Luis Enrique asked not to be compared with recovering from nagging muscle injuries last aggregate, it was one of Aragones’ famous years. Given the harsh financial realities Barcelona finished its first season without a Guardiola, and said his best quality as a coach season. decrees “win, win and win again” that met that affect performance at the top level major trophy in six years. was being a leader, not as an expert in tactics, “I am thrilled to have the best player in the the players in a spectacular display by the of the Champions League, it could take “We believe that this is the beginning of a despite his insider knowledge of Barcelona’s world on my team,” Enrique said. “It’s obvious Vicente Calderon crowd as they hosted them 40 years or more to get another new Barcelona, a Barcelona that will excite ball-control approach. “I don’t rely too heavily on that Messi’s output this season wasn’t as incredi- Barcelona in the last eight. chance. —AFP again,” Luis Enrique said. “When I left Barca the tactical knowhow, instead I focus on managing a ble as in past years ... I hope that with me he can club told me that it was a ‘see you later’ and they group, managing egos,” he said. “There is work find his best version, but not only him, also have kept their word. I can’t wait to hear the that goes on during the week, work based on Iniesta and Neymar and the rest.” hymn of Barcelona in the .” knowing each player. I try to be everything a Luis Enrique can draw on links with three The 44-year-old Luis Enrique won two league leader is.” Luis Enrique’s immediate goal is to generations of players, having played alongside titles as a Barcelona player from 1996-2004 and work with sports director Andoni Zubizarreta veteran Hernandez, coached former B team coached its B team from 2008-11. He also and rebuild a squad that has experienced a slow player , and taken rising talent coached at Roma, and led Celta Vigo to a slide over the past two years. Rafina Alcantara from Barcelona to Celta on loan respectable ninth-place finish this season after “He is a coach that knows our way of playing, and now back. installing an attractive passing attack on the our philosophy. We believe that we have put the Luis Enrique is one of the few players to have Barcelona model. squad that we are going to build for next season enjoyed successful stints at both Barcelona and Luis Enrique’s hiring continues a recent tradi- in good hands,” said Zubizarreta, who also Madrid. He occupies a special place among tion of in-house coaches recently represented in recalled that Enrique had “put a goal or two” past Barcelona’s faithful as the one recent player to Guardiola and . That string was bro- the former Barcelona goalkeeper when Enrique have left Madrid for Barcelona, in contrast to a ken when Martino was hastily brought in last played for Real Madrid. Under Luis Enrique, group of former stars who left for the Spanish year after Vilanova resigned to focus on his bat- Barcelona will be expected to bring in reinforce- capital, including Luis Figo, and tle with throat cancer that he eventually lost last ments to help , Andres Iniesta and . —AP Germany to tune World Cup challenge at Alpine retreat

ALPS: Germany launched their World Cup prepara- obviously the biggest possible success which is the gling to find stability in the past months. Loew has yet Diego Simeone tions yesterday with the start of a 10-day training World Cup trophy.” to settle on a central defensive partnership with Per camp in the Italian Alps aimed at fine-tuning a team Loew will also be without first choice keeper Mertesacker, Jerome Boateng and the bidding for a first international title in 18 years. at the start with the Bayern Munich strongest candidates for the two positions. Lahm’s Do not sell young stars, Germany coach Joachim Loew, in charge for his fourth player wearing a sling following a shoulder injury in own contribution is still unclear with the right back tournament and second World Cup since taking over the same game. wanting to move permanently to a midfield position, ex-chairman tells Saints in 2006, has invited 27 players in his provisional squad The coach’s biggest concern, however, is his where he played in their friendly 1-0 over Chile in which will be cut back to 23 by June 2. Their cool and defence with the once solid German backline strug- March.—Reuters LONDON: Southampton’s England stars “I can tell you that I didn’t have that fear tranquil South Tyrolean mountain retreat deep in the Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana would be to the last day I was at the club. I was confi- Alps is a far cry from the hot and humid tropical condi- safely secured at the south coast Premier dent about plenty of conversations I had tions they will have to weather in Brazil as the three- League club if former chairman Nicola with the players. times winners seek to end their title drought. Cortese were still at the helm, the Italian “I knew the players themselves wanted But the focus is firmly on becoming the first non- said yesterday. “We created those talents — to stick together because this vision was South American team to win a World Cup on that con- it was key to keep them,” he said in an inter- something they believed in, too. I didn’t see tinent. “The greed for the World Cup trophy is there,” view with the BBC, his first since quitting in any reason for them to go. captain Philipp Lahm said ahead of their departure for January. “You don’t produce them just to “I didn’t have written offers, but I obvi- northern Italy, site of their pre-World Cup preparations sell, otherwise you give away your ambi- ously had phone calls. My answer was that in 1990 when they last won the trophy. “We have the tion.” Left-back Shaw is believed to be the it was not going to happen for at least the punch to win the title but we have to be careful that subject of a 27 million pounds ($45.49 mil- next two seasons. The other chairmen the talent and ego of each of us serves the team. We lion) offer from Manchester United, while respected that. Until the day I left, there need heart and passion in Brazil,” he told Bild newspa- Liverpool have targeted creative were no offers.” Shaw and Lallana’s stock per. Lahm will skip training at the secluded football and Saints skipper Lallana with what is has risen considerably in the last six pitch surrounded by a high cloth-covered fences at reported to be a 20 million pounds ($33.70 months, however - not least because the the five-star hotel for at least five days as he recovers million) bid. pair are in England manager Roy Hodgson’s from an ankle injury picked up in the German Cup Cortese, who became chairman when squad for the World Cup, along with team final on Saturday. Southampton were a League One (third mate Rickie Lambert. division) club five years ago, said that he Cortese cautioned Southampton’s in- BRAZILIAN SUN BERLIN: In this picture taken May 17, 2014 Bayern Munich’s team physician Hans-Wilhelm was confident the big names at the side demand young manager Mauricio “I do not want to be eliminated in the semis or trav- Mueller-Wohlfahrt (left) treats Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Bayern Munich says would not have left during his watch, and Pochettino from having his head turned by el to Brazil for the sun,” said the 30-year-old, preparing Germany captain Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will be fit in time for the World that he had never feared losing players. clubs with deeper pockets.—Reuters for his third World Cup. “I have a clear goal and that is Cup despite sustaining injuries. —AP