Soccer News of Thursday, 11 July 2002

Source: BBC

Yeboah wins the double in Quatar

In the twilight of a distinguished football career, former Ghanaian international Anthony Yeboah has few regrets.

His inability to win a league title with Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburg, the two German clubs he played for, is one of them.

But in his first season with Qatari club Al Ittihad, Yeboah has won the league and Cup double. For him, that is a refreshing change.

"As I won no league trophy in Europe, winning with my new club is a great experience," Yeboah said.

But the two time winner of the Bundesliga's top scorers award has no illusions about the quality of the Qatari league.

"Once you go there, it means you're about to stop playing football.

"Frankly speaking, it's nothing like what you experience in Europe. The standard is definitely lower."

Yeboah says his decision to ply his trade in the Gulf is indicative of his decision to wind-up his playing career.

"I could quit the game at any moment but the next year or two is likely," he said.

"Luckily for me, I suffered no major injuries and I achieved as much as I could, so I will retire from the game with absolutely no regrets," he said.

Yeboah left German football after he was fined 360,000 German Marks for tax evasion last year.

But he said Qatari football has helped him in forget the turbulent period he had with SV Hamburg.

Yeboah, who had a stint in English football with Leeds United, scored 11 goals in 15 games with Al Ittihad.

After the stern regimen of European professional football, he said the less frenzied pace of football in the Gulf is a welcome relief.

"Qatar is a great place with nice, friendly people. I would be more than happy to end my career here."