By: David Kyei

Date: 14-04-11

The much talked about Ivorian trio who have been on Dr. K. K. Sarpong and his management team’s shopping radar since 13 February 2011 have finally touched base in the Garden City of Ghana to begin final observation by Kotoko.

The three, Kouakou Serge Pacome (midfielder), Banh Ben Adama (Defender) and Blagnon Goue Frederic Noel (Striker) all from Ivorian side, Africa Sports C.S, arrived in Kumasi in the late hours of last Wednesday.

In the company of the facilitator of their arrival in Ghana, Listowel Yesu Bukarson, the three insisted that they be shown the Baba Yara Stadium before being taken to their hotel to rest their bodies from the stressful and tiring journey from the politically troubled La Cote D’ivoire.

Their journey has been a stressful and tiring one because though Kotoko had sent air tickets to them, there were no flights in and out of their country and seeing that their delay in arriving in Ghana may stall their possible move to Kotoko, they braved the odds and the insecurity, and joined the hundreds travelling by the dangerous roads to enter Ghana through Elubo in the Western Region of Ghana.

Relieved and happy to have finally made it to Kumasi, the three speaking through Ben Adama (who speaks an appreciable amount English language), in an interview with Kotoko Express spoke on how determined they were to be part of the fabulous club.

“We are professionals who are determined to move up to the highest pedestal in our career. We are therefore ready to brave any dangerous situation to achieve our goals”.

“Our goal for the period since February has been to join and play for the African club of the century. That is the reason why we took the dangerous path to come to Kumasi”.

“Our delay in coming though had a little of influence from the political situation back in our country, was mainly due to the fact that our club was still playing in the continental competition and so we had to stay on and play”.

“We unfortunately are out of the competition and so we now have the permission to travel and here we are to train and possibly sign for Kotoko”.

As integral members of the Africa Sports team that defeated Kotoko by 3-2 in an international friendly last February, they say they took time to gauge Kumasi in particular and Ghana in general and were of the full conviction that Kotoko and Kumasi will offer them the platform for their talents to flourish in peace.

“From what we saw on our last visit, Kumasi is a peaceful place to live in and we feel at home coming here to work”.

On the question whether they were under no pressure and would not find it difficult integrating into the team, striker Blagnon Frederic had an interesting answer:

“Football is an international language that is spoken by all its practitioners no matter where they are. The rules are the same and so we will walk onto the field and speak the language that all the stake holders of the game understand and those are play well and score more goals,” he said.

“Besides, Kotoko has a fantastic coach whom we are sure will sharpen our rough edges to make us superstars”.

Kotoko now can boast of a gelling midfield and so would be difficult for new players to command a straight away position in the starting line up, but Kouakou Serge Pacome says he was ready to wait to take a spot in the starting line up.

“I do not want to be seen to be blowing my horn, but I believe I have what it takes to command a regular shirt in the team”.

“Kotoko is a big team and so any one who wishes to play for the club must have a strong character and talent. I am ready for the Kotoko challenge”.

Team Kotoko as it is now has an Ivorian player, Ahmed Toure, whose performance is writing a good testimonial for his compatriots and this they observed in the match when Africa Sports played against Kotoko.

“We know Ahmed Toure and we also know the other players Awal, yaw Frimpong and Michael Akuffu who kept encouraging us to come to Kotoko as they said Kotoko had more to offer in terms of career development”.

If there was one person in the trio who would have more eyes on him, it is no one but Blagnon Goue Frederic Noel, the man who scored two goals against Kotoko in that friendly match.

“It is interesting how people are trying to feel for me over that issue. One thing I want all fans to note that I am just but one person whose duty it would be to contribute to the general performance of the team”.

“I know that with the cooperation of my colleagues in the tam, we all will work hard to win laurels for the club”.

“I am not and will not be under any pressure as long as we all work together as a team,” he added.

Not to waste time at all, the trio is billed to play in Sunday’s friendly match against Yegoala Stars, a division one side at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Sunday’s match is going to be the first time Bogdan Korak will assess the players and so fans are entreated to come to the stadium in their ten thousands to witness the performance of the players at first hand.