Celtic’s goal woes may be solved by Ghana youngster
BLOEMFONTEIN Celtic’s notso-pleasing record in front of goal in the first half of the season has prompted management to move quickly and secure the services of a striker who will show no mercy when he gets in sight of the opposition net.
Having scored just 15 goals in as many matches in the league, Phunya Sele Sele, currently in ninth place on the Absa Premiership table, confirmed the signing of highly rated Ghanaian international striker Ransford Osei on a sixmonth loan deal on Wednesday from Israeli club Maccabi Haifa, where the likes of Terror Fanteni and Tsepo Masilela have played before.
Celtic’s main striker Clifford Mulenga has scored just four goals thus far, while Lennox Bacela, another man they rely on for goals, has found the back of the net three times and Moses Spandeel has a measly two goals, a clear sign that the Free State club need a striker who can convert the many chances they create.
Celtic coach Clinton Larsen is pleased with the acquisition of the 21-year-old and is hoping that the striker, who has played for Ghana’s national Under-17 and 20 teams, can settle quickly to the style of play and score freely as Celtic look to finish in the top eight.
“I had a good look at him in training and I was impressed. He is a young man who has composure. That’s what we need. Hopefully he settles in quickly,” he said.
Osei, who can also play as an attacking midfielder, scored four goals for Ghana en-route to the 2009 Under-20 Fifa World Cup title and was unstoppable earlier that year in the African Youth Championship as he finished top scorer, netting seven goals in five matches in Ghana’s dominant display.
Born in Accra, Osei joined Maccabi in 2008 from Ghana club Medeama and has been loaned out to Berekum Chelsea in Ghana, Granada in Spain and FC Twente in Holland previously, and now Celtic.
“He is one of the best junior internationals on the continent and he has played in La Liga for Granada and also played for FC Twente in Holland. He is something special,” an elated Larsen said.
“He has received silver and golden boots in many of the junior international tournaments he has played in. He had malaria not too long ago and had to go back to Ghana. Then he came to Durban with Mike Makaab (his agent) and we got a call from him (Makaab) asking if we want to have a look at the player,” the coach went on to say.
Meanwhile, Larsen said the club have been interested in signing Mamelodi Sundowns out-of-favour midfielder Papi Zothwane for a while now.
“We have been interested in signing him since early last year, but you would have to speak to management about him. You know it’s very difficult to sign players from the big clubs.”
CEO Khumbulani Konco said the club cannot confirm anything yet, but they are interested in the former Bafana Bafana midfielder.