General News of Thursday, 10 June 2010

Source: prince dornu-leiku / sportsinghana.com

George Owu won’t forgive World Cup snub

Goalkeeper George Owu may never forgive Ghanaian football chiefs and coach Milovan Rajevac for not including him in Ghana’s World Cup squad.

The Ashantigold goalie is not only disappointed that he has missed out on the chance to play on the biggest stage of them all, but also because the snub has certainly blocked his move to English Premiership side Tottenham Hotspurs with whom he impressed on trials back in February.

The goalkeeper needs regular national team playtime to earn work permit for England . “There is no doubt that I am disappointed because I thought I was in a good position considering the goalkeepers in the squad.

“Tottenham are worried and have called me to ask why I am not in the World Cup squad. Ghana is supposed to help me because I have been a national team player for a long time,” the goalie told SportsInGhana.com when we bumped into him at the GFA offices last week.

The goalie returned to mother club Ashantigold towards the end of the just concluded Glo Ghana Premier League season after leaving Egyptian side Al-Masry in February.

Delay in the arrival of his International Transfer Certificate meant Owu could only deputise on the Ashgold bench for Fatau Dauda in their last three games.

But the experienced goalkeeper is not giving up on a return to national team duties in the future. “Once I have life, there is hope. If you remember Jens Lehmann always complained that he also should play for Germany instead of Oliver Khan and his opportunity came in 2006 when he was their number one choice at the World Cup ahead of Khan.

“I am not worried, I just want to get back to playing club football next season, then by God’s grace I will be back,” Owu said.