...SWITCHING SIDES - AFRICAS NEW TREND ?
Eric Akoto is a Ghanaian. But he plays for Togo. And now that he has hit fame, the Black Stars are regretting his defection or change of nationality.
Akoto plays for Benedict Akwuegbu’s GAK in Austria. Why does he play for Togo? He told his story this way: "Selection of players in Ghana has always been controversial. People complain but there is even more to it. For me I feel there is a lot of discrimination in selection. Some good players are left out. I did my best to play for Ghana but they would not select me. I did all I could to play in Nigeria ’99 but they did not select me. I felt that I had no future in Ghana where I was born and where I grew up. After playing myself into the team in Austria and becoming a name in Austria, Ghana wanted me .
But I had chosen Togo and started playing for them. Togo are doing well and I think that in the next eight years, Togo may qualify for the World Cup. Cameroun won the last Nations Cup. We were the only team that beat them. We beat them at the group level. Now, Senegal are the new sensation of African football. We were in the same group in the African Cup of Nations qualifying group. But we beat them 1-0 at home and went on to top our group. Senegal placed second in our group. But it’s the same Senegal that are going to the World Cup. If that doesn’t send any signal about our growing football, I wonder what should. Honestly, I’m happy playing for Togo.
I had a good game against Zambia in the Nations Cup qualifiers. I scored and at club level, I’ve scored in friendly matches but the goal against Ried was my first Bundesliga goal and that coming three and half years after joining them, you can imagine how delighted I was. I like joining the attack from my defense position but it took long before I could score. It really felt good scoring that goal. I have a wife and a baby girl and I’m happy here in Austria. Benedict is my good friend. He is very humble and makes my stay here pleasant. Ado is another African here. He is Ghanaian and played in Nigeria ‘ 99.
"We are all okay waiting for the Nations Cup. We have some Nigerians playing in Togo. Some have taken up Togolese citizenship. Olufade is a Nigerian playing in France. He now plays for Togo. Salou is a known player in Europe but he has not been playing for Togo. I hope to convince him to play in the Nations Cup."
Like the typical African, he asked many questions about home and one’s family before parting and sending a soccer ball as his parting gift to the man from Nigeria as Libregts would put it.
This reporter moved from Southampton to Graz, Austria to watch AK play against Ried. Watch out for stories on Benedict Akwuegbu and Thijs Libregts.
