Wakaso stands tall at World Youth tournament in Peru

(From Caesar Abagali, GNA Special Correspondent, Lima, Peru) Courtesy: PureJoy Fruit Juice

Lima, September 29, GNA - Some Peruvian fans surprised the Ghanaian technical team in Peru when some of them thronged the Ghana camp on Wednesday night just to catch a glimpse of Wakaso Mubarak who distinguished himself in the final group match against China in Piura. This came as a surprise to the team because almost a week after Ghana had been eliminated from the FIFA World Under 17 championship, the Ghanaians were thinking about their journey back home after being stranded in Lima due to their inability to secure early flights and the expiration of their Brazilian visas.

Two of the fans who came to the hotel and pleaded to see Wakaso said the young lad played for only 106 minutes in the entire tournament but Peruvian TV and radio stations adjudged him the best midfielder of the tournament.

Ms Julisa Pardi who came in the company of her mother said one of the radio stations described Wakaso as superb and that if he played all the matches Ghana would not have been shown her early exit.

According to her, one TV station said Wakaso could become one of the world's best players in future and would have been voted the best of the tournament if Ghana had progressed, hence their reason for wanting to meet the player physically before they read about him in future.

"My family and I were supporting Ghana because of Wakaso and I am very sad that Ghana could not progress further", Ms Pardi said. They took pictures with Wakaso and promised to give him a present before he leaves Peru.

Meanwhile, the Ghanaian contingent have finally obtained their Brazilian visas and would be departing Lima for home on Friday and expected to arrive in Accra on Sunday.