Feature: 12 youngsters to watch in 2012

By Akyereko Frimpong-Manson

These are youngsters who grace the game with lots of quality and array of excitements. They may be players who have broken through already or setting in. They provide a lot of inspiration and hope for the future. Two of my picks for 2011; Jordan Ayew and Mohammed Abu have gate crashed the Black Stars squad for this month's Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Amidu Salifu and Richmond Boakye-Yiadom are making a case for themselves with Fiorentina and Sassuolo respectively.

I select these 12 players to excel in 2012.

12. Baba Abdul Rahman

Age: 18

Club: Asante Kotoko (Ghana)

Position: Left-back

The young man who joined Kotoko from lower side Dreams FC has emerged as one of the big revelations in the Glo Ghana Premier League. The chap has taken the responsibility to initiate attacks for Kotoko and he is the main reason why Kotoko have scored 17 goals-more than any other club-in 12 games so far. There are reports of his likely departure and Kotoko must tie him down.

 

 

 

 

 

11. Tawrick Jibril

Age: 20

Club: Trabzonspor (Turkey)

Position: Left-winger

Bucaspor have sworn fire and brimstone to ensure justice and are readying to drag Trabzonspor to Fifa for signing a deal with the youngster who is allegedly under contract with the second-tier side. Jibril is a massive talent no doubt but the former Hearts of Oak whiz kid needs to take a serious look at his stability and contractual troubles. He was shot into oblivion by a contractual disagreement during his sensational stint with Hearts of Oak. Jibril who was likened to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi local fans, showed some bits of his brilliance for Bucaspor leading to his capture by Trabzonspor. If the young man sorts out his issues off the pitch, he can excel.

 

10. Joseph Alfred Duncan

Age: 18

Club: Inter Milan

Position: Midfielder

Inter Boss Claudio Ranieri has commended the youngster's performance for the Primavera squad (Inter's second string team) after he put in sterling displays in the reserves league. Duncan scored the all important goal that secured passage to the quarter-finals of the Uefa U19 Champions League for the young Nerrazzuris at PSV Eindhoven in December. Duncan is an excellent holder of the ball and can fire blasters from distance. Duncan is eyeing a place in Orlando Wellington's Black Satellites squad.

 

 

 

9. Maxwell Boadu Acosty

Age: 19

Club: Fiorentina (Italy)

Position: Attacker

The Akosombo-born striker who stands 1.78m high leads the top scorers chart in the Italian reserves league with an incredible 13 goals in 10 games. His blistering and explosive pace has earned him the tag G6. After scoring the trophy winning goal in the Coppa Italia final against AS Roma earlier this year, Acosty has once again powered La Viola to the quarter-finals. It won't be long before he starts making some substitute appearances for the first team.

 

8. Daniel Kofi Agyei

Age: 20

Club: Fiorentina (Italy)

Position: Holding midfield

The Fiorentina Primavera captain has improved in his defensive midfield role helping his side to second place just two points behind leaders Juventus. Kofi Essien, as he is popular referred to has been one of the most exciting additions to the reserves league this season. He could make a return to the first team squad before the end of the season.

 

 7. Christian Atsu Twasam

 Age: 20

 Club: Rio Ave (On loan from FC Porto)

 Position: Winger

After sweeping the FC Porto Young Player of the Year award, Atsu who turns 20 this  January has been in sensational form at Rio where he was sent on loan. All eyes have  been cast at his direction. The Rio new Mighty mouse has notched three goals so far.  Atsu's qualities won him the best player of the 2011 Fifa Blue Stars tournament. His  strengths are that he is quick, dynamic and is an old-fashioned dribbler.

 

6. Richmond Boakye-Yiadom

Age: 19

Club: Sassuolo (On loan from Genoa)

Position: Forward

The striker targeted 15 goals for the season but even before the first quarter, he had notched eight in all competitions. Had it not been a knee trouble that paused his season, the former Bechem United striker would have sailed past his target now. Juventus and Manchester United have all reported expressed interest in pricing away the Ghana starlet but Genoa will not let go of their talented forward. If he is able to recapture his form, he could earn himself a call-up from Goran Stevanovic.

 

 

5. Amidu Salifu

Age: 19

Club: Fiorentina (Italy)

Position: Defensive/Offensive midfielder

Delio Rossi has spotted a quality he saw in Afriyie Acquah at Palermo and has immediately called the Sunyani-born dynamic midfielder from the reserves team. He has made a couple of first team appearances as a defensive midfield and looked quite okay although he is used to playing just behind the main striker. Amidu could be a great prospect for the Black Satellites though he made an appearance in 2011.

 

4. Ishmael Yartey

Age: 22

Club: FC Servette (On loan from SL Benfica)

Position: Winger

Yartey has settled well at Servette and has fit into the Swiss Super League perfectly. He has worked on his confidence and he is using the Super League as a platform to advertise his explosive pace coming from the left side, where he has learnt to hug the wing and wait for openings to create space. If you want to see a direct carbon-copy of Andre Ayew, watch Ishmael Yartey in action for Servette. He fights as well. The young man wants to return to Benfica and gain regular playing time. Yartey could walk straight into the Black Stars squad.

 

3.Jordan Ayew

Age: 20

Club: Olympique Marseille (France)

Position: Attacker

I would have gone on a naked demonstration had Jordan been left out of the Nations Cup squad. Not because of my affection for the Ayew family but for the fact that he has been the most improved Ghanaian striker playing abroad. I like a manager who inspires youngster and gives them the confidence and opportunity to shine. And Didier Deschamps has done just that. He has made Jordan Ayew the player with the highest number of appearances and the youngster has rewarded him with an improved form and important goals. For those who doubt the abilities of Jordan, you wait for January 21 and beyond.

 

2. Mohammed Abu

Age: 20

Club: Eintracht Frankfurt (On loan from Manchester City)

Position: Utility midfielder

Using a bit of inside knowledge of Abu that I can feel free to share with you, Manchester City Boss Roberto Mancini is very satisfied with his performance and was prepared to use him in his first team if the English FA were ready to scrap the rules on national team appearances. Mohammed Abu is going to be very crucial for Frankfurt's fight to get back to the German top flight division. Abu will be Ghana's ''Anderson Deco'' at his debut Nations Cup appearance.

 

1. Andre Ayew

Age: 22

Club: Olympique Marseille (France)

Position: Left-winger

What are the qualities of a true champion? Consistency and improved performance. Andre has demonstrated this quality more than any Ghanaian player across board and I believe Caf had it wrong once again. Andre should have dwarfed Seydou Keita in the Caf Awards. My words cannot describe what Andre will do in 2012. Just find the synonyms for it beginning January 21.