by Dom Agbakpe

14 years ago, football fans and pundits in Ghana had high hopes for a budding forward who was perceived to be the perfect replacement for Matthew Amoah and Junior Agogo.

A forward with graceful touch, finesse, pace, strength and had eyes for goals. He was just 16 years. However, 14 years later, their hopes and expectations have disappeared as they wonder where he is at present.

2007 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP, SOUTH KOREA.

The 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup was one which brought born footballers from around the globe. It was a tournament for players under the age of 17 years.

Ghana, who has an enviable record in youth football in the world, having won it twice in 91 and 95 was part of the 24-team tournament.

The Black Satellites were pitted in Group F against Trinidad and Tobago, Germany and Columbia.

Sellas Tetteh’s boys got their campaign off with a 4-1 mauling of Trinidad and Tobago then lost 2-3 to Germany in the second game before beating Columbia 2-1 in the final Group game to finish second with 6 points and marched into the last 16.

They pipped Brazil 1-0, beat Peru 2-0 in the quarter-finals to advance to the semi-finals where they met Spain who thumped them 2-1 in extra-time.

Many talents were unveiled and Ransford Osei was one of the best players at the tournament as he won the silver boot after scoring 6 goals in 7 games. Macaulay Chrisantus of Nigeria and Toni Kroos of Germany won the golden and bronze boots with 7 and 5 goals respectively.

THE WORLD TEENAGE STARS

The tournament had introduced three players – Two attackers and a midfielder, Macaulay Chrisantus, Ransford Osei and Toni Kroos.

They were the top performers as they were brilliant all tournament.

WHERE IS RANSFORD OSEI?

The question many football fans are and have been asking is – “Where is Ransford Osei”?

Toni Kroos, 31 has achieved a lot of success in his career so far – 3 German titles, 3 Super Cups, 2 La Liga titles, 1 Spanish Super Cup, 4 Champions League titles, 5 FIFA Club World Cups and a FIFA World Cup.

Ransford Osei shared the same stage with the German has two trophies to his name, the Afcon U20 and FIFA World U20 titles.

The likes of Victor Moses, David De Gea, Nacho, Fabinho, Eden Hazard, Danny Rose and Bojan Krkic were also players from the tournament.

The aforementioned players have Champions League and Europa League medals but for Danny Rose who is a Champions League finalist and are doing well for their respective clubs.

Ransford Osei hasn’t been consistent with clubs. He played for Maccabi Haifa, Rops, Polokwane City, Granada B, Santa Claus, FC Twente and now with Palanga in Lithuania.

WHOSE FAULT IS IT?

Whose fault is it? What could be the problem? Is it that the player hasn’t worked hard enough to reach the top like the others? or Is it that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) are failing interms of follow-up to keep the youth teams together?

Fabinho, Nacho, James Rodrigues and Eden Hazard weren’t heard of years after the tournament but have over the years worked hard to make their way into the limelight.

Every football fan pretty much knows about them today and Toni Kroos has been in the public eye since he was introduced at the tournament in South Korea. The question is “WHAT HAPPENED TO RANSFORD OSEI”?

Soka25east.com