Soccer News of Monday, 23 May 2011

Source: kickoffghana.com.

No cheer for Premiership Ghanaians

The English Premiership rounds up this weekend without much to cheer for the Ghanaian contingent who plays their club football there.
The season started with the highest representation ever for Ghanaians spread across four clubs but all of them have experienced varying degrees of disappointment in a season dominated once again by Manchester United.
Michael Essien will finish the season as the highest placed Ghanaian if Chelsea take second place but on a personal level it has not been the best of seasons for the man nicknamed the Bisson.
Down the road at Fulham, John Paintsil had easily the worst season amongst his countrymen. He started the season overlooked often by new boss Mark Hughes but when he got his chance mid season, three own goals saw him revert to the bench which is where he has stayed since. With his contract due to expire later this summer, he says his future almost certainly lies elsewhere.
Richard Kingson has had a mixed season. In his previous spells at Birmingham City and Wigan, Kingson had not hit double figures in appearances between the sticks for any club. But injury to Blackpool first choice Matt Gilks offered him the perfect opportunity to play in post, a rarity for a Black African goalkeeper in the Premiership.
Some days he was brilliant, others prone to the costly error and the return of Gilks has seen him shuffled back to the bench.
Sunderland had the biggest representation of Ghanaians this season with Asamoah Gyan the undoubted star of the trio. Eleven Premiership goals means Gyan can look back on his first season in the English game as his most prolific yet. But his club struggled mid-table and his own form was inconsistent for much of the season.
John Mensah, in his second loan spell at Sunderland suffered his fair share of injuries and poor form and must now hope Steve Bruce will be prepared to gamble on his fitness again.
Sulley Muntari joined from loan on Inter Milan, made nine appearances but was told he was too expensive for the club.
Ghanaian journalist based in England Ibrahim Sannie Daara is in no doubt it has been a poor season overall for his countrymen in England with the possible exception of Gyan.