A panel of six soccer experts has picked a team of the season for Ghanaian players plying their trade in Europe. Eight of the 11 places on the team were occupied by players that are in Ghana?s World cup squad.
SWAG?s player of the Season, National team captain Stephen Appiah, was voted the player of the season.
Selection was based on the players? performance for their clubs and NOT for the national team. The strength of the various leagues was a factor. Only the top league of each country was considered.
Team of the Season 2005-06
GoalkeeperSammy Adjei (FC Moadon Sports Ashdod, Israel): The national team goalkeeper's selection was due more to a lack of competition, than to his unquestionable ability in post. The other keepers abroad were inactive (Richard Kingston), anonymous (Ibrahim Dossey) or in lower leagues (Amamoo).
Defenders
John Paintsil (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel): With George Blay injured, Hans Sapei?s inconsistent showing and Emma Boakye playing only a few league games, this position was wide open. Paintsil?s unwavering consistency in a miserly rearguard coupled with a willingness to get forward at every opportunity, causing problems with his delivery got him the nod. Crowned the season by winning the Israeli cup.
John Mensah (Stade Rennais FC, France): The cultured defender bounced back from inactivity in the first half of the season, with Italian side Cremonese, to establish himself as the key figure in the French side?s rearguard. Without him, Rennais might have faced the drop this season.
Sammy Osei Kufuor (Roma, Italy): Veteran defender had a pretty average first season in Italy, but then besides Francis Dickoh, there was not much of a challenge for this position.
Sam Johnson (Kayserispor, Turkey): An instrumental figure at the heart of the midfield and sometimes defense, he was ever-present as his small unknown club raffled feathers in the Turkish Premiership. He?s had a remarkably consistent season. His determination, fighting spirit and aggressiveness conceals his technical deficiencies. Despite his age, he is still one of the best all round Ghanaian players around. It?s a pity he failed to make the world cup squad
Midfield
Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahce, Turkey): The captain of the national team provides the main drive and inspiration in the Turkish club?s midfield department and, with eight goals to his credit, is on his way to be voted best player in Turkey. Unfortunately, he ended a very promising season on a sad note ? Zilch Trophies!
Michael Essien (Chelsea, England): Chelsea midfielder was in imperious form for most of the season, in spite of the controversy that dodged his transfer from Lyon. His tackling, distribution and overall contribution in front of the back four see him secure a place in the Team of the Season.
Sulley Muntari (Udinese, Italy): He had a great start to the season and even managed to score three goals in the first 5 games. Fizzled out in mid-season and came back strongly towards the end to help his club avoid the drop
Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands): For most of the first half of the season, he was warming the bench. However, he got his chance when a regular player got injured. He took it and never looked back. He was solid and helped his club retain the Dutch league title and reach the finals of the Dutch cup. Abubakari Yakubu and Anthony Obodai were the other likely candidates for this position.
Forwards
Isaac Boakye(Bielefeld, Germany): Despite being injured for a considerable part of the season, Boakye still contributed eight goals to his club. But, how did Boakye edge out Samuel Yeboah ?the top scorer for Ghanaians abroad. Well, the quality of the Israeli league is not exactly at par with the Bundersliiga.
Ibrahim Salou(Zulte-Waregem, Belgium): This unknown striker was chosen over Matthew Amoah and Techie-Mensah because he had a more balanced season. Amoah had a great first half of the season in the Netherlands, but failed to score a single goal when he moved to Germany. Salou has something you can't teach - a never-say-die attitude. He chases more lost causes than Kofi Wayo
