GYIMAH READY TO REJOIN PIRATES
Star wants a few days off Larsen upbeat at prospects
EDWIN Gyimah was one of three Ghana players not to taste action at the Africa Cup of Nations, but he expects Orlando Pirates to give him a few days off as the Absa Premiership resumes this week. Gyimah concluded a month’s camp with the Black Stars this weekend as they endured yet another semifinal heartbreak at the Afcon and prolonged their 35year wait for continental glory. He didn’t get game time even in Saturday’s third-place play-off against Burkina Faso, which the Burkinabe clinched 1-0 to secure a first bronze. His former Pirates teammates, Fatau Dauda and Ebenezer Assifuah, were the two others who didn’t play in any of Ghana’s six matches at the tournament which concluded in Gabon last night. Now Gyimah must head back to South Africa to help Pirates get their Premiership title bid back on track. But he will almost certainly miss Wednesday’s match against Platinum Stars in Phokeng.
“It’s been a long month. So I expect to get a few days off, but at the end of the day I have work to do at Pirates,” Gyimah said following Ghana’s semifinal loss to Cameroon in Franceville.
He is aware that he will be under a new coach at the club for the second round and accepted a lot of convincing has to be done for the club to be competitive this year.
“We know that there will be a new coach and everyone has to work hard to win a place in the team. We have to adapt to new methods. But we don’t have to put ourselves under a lot of pressure.”
Pirates resume the second round having sunk to 10th in the Premiership standings, with just four wins from their 13 games. After Wednesday’s trip to the North West, they face Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
Gyimah, meanwhile, was as distraught as everybody else in the Ghana set-up following yet another semifinal Afcon failure.
“It’s very disappointing. “A lot was expected from us in this tournament. We put up a good performance but it was not good enough. We just have to try again.”
Gyimah will hope not only do Ghana end their long drought, but also to get some minutes on the field, should he be selected for the 2019 event in Cameroon, when he will be 28.
Cameroon v Egypt kicked off late last night LAMONTVILLE Golden Arrows coach Clinton Larsen has set his sight on a top eight finish. Larsen maintains Arrows will do everything in their power to achieve their targets. However, it won’t be a smooth ride for Abafana Bes’thende who will resume their programme with a tough task. They visit top-of-the-table SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday (7:30pm). It’s going to be even trickier when Arrows host Celtic at Princess Magogo Stadium three days later, but Larson remains upbeat. “Our preparations went well. We played many friendly matches during the break and that helped us a lot. I want the team to finish inside top eight, that is my priority. At the moment we are in position six and it will be quiet an achievement for a club like arrows if we can maintain that position,” Larsen said. “Everyone here at the club is motivated because we all have the same goal. The players are showing good signs and I am adamant we will compete for a top eight finish. “I know it will not be a walk in the park, but I have told my players to start playing as soon as the first game.’’ Arrows have since bolstered their squad with Knox Mutizwa who is on loan from Bidvest, exOrlando Pirates striker Chiukepo Msowoya and Nkosinathi Mthiyane, who is also on loan from Pirates. Larsen hopes his new signings will bring new dimension to the side, “They are looking sharp and motivated. I am confident that they will get us those vital goals and help us going forward.’’