The German Bundesliga sparked off on Friday night with holders Bayern Munich striking late to secure a point in a 2-2 stalemate with Hertha Berlin.
The Ghanaian interest in the Bundesliga this season will obviously be huge compared to previous season’s considering the number of Ghanaian players set to dazzle in the German top flight.
And with Africa’s leading pay-TV operator, StarTimes, airing all the matches, Ghanaians can only sit in their homes comfortable to enjoy football as it’s meant to be.
As many as eleven players with Ghanaian origins or connected to Ghanaian descent will be featuring in this season’s German Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich
Title holder Bayern Munich have registed striker Kwasi Okyere Wriedt in their list of players for the season.
Okyere, 25, has been with the Bavarians for over two seasons now and is bidding his time to feature for the side in the top flight. Last season, he tasted some few games and was farmed out to the junior side to play in the Regionaliga. Okyere is however expecting to play a key role for the Allianz Arena side especially with the departure of Frank Robert and Arjen Robin.
Another player with a Ghanaian connection set to play for Bayern Munich is Alphonso Davies, an attacking midfielder. Davies is not a full blooded Ghanaian yet as his nationality is still a matter of debate. He was born in Ghana by Liberian parents but currently holds a Canadian passport. Davies has already played for the Canadian national team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament earlier this year. But his birth connection in Ghana makes him one of the ten players with Ghanaian a touch to play in the Bundesliga.
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig staged a stupendous outing in the Bundesliga last season and finished 3rd, overtaking the likes of Bayer Leverkusen Eintracht Frankfurt and TSG Hoffenheim.
The side will have a link with Ghana this time around after securing the services of Ghanaian-born Wales international Ethan Ampadu on loan from Chelsea. Leipzig will surely court the attention of Ghanaians in this season’s Bundesliga.
Fortuna Düsseldorf
Already many Ghanaians have started following Fortuna Düsseldorf on Social Media with some tagging it as ‘Black Stars B’ considering the number of Ghanaian players there.
Bernard Terkpetey was the first to join from Schalke 04 on loan after securing Bundesliga promotion with SC Paderborn 07. Following the Bundesliga promotion, Terkpetey was bought back by Schalke 04 who then loaned him to Fortuna Düsseldorf. An explosive season is expected for the Ghanaian who played 34 times for SC Paderborn 07 in all competitions and registered 10 goals.
Nana Opoku Ampomah then joined from Belgian side Waasland Beeveren after an impressive season on a three year deal. Nana has been overly impressive for Fortuna Düsseldorf in the preseason scoring some wonderful goals and is expected to hit the ground running when the league starts.
The third Ghanaian at Fortuna Düsseldorf is Kevin Ofori. Ofori joined Fortuna Düsseldorf on trial and impressed so we’ll during the preseason earning him a permanent deal with the Flingeraners. Kevin has been an amazing discovery in the preseason and will be a revelation in the Bundesliga if his form continues the way it has started.
The last Ghanaian at Fortuna Düsseldorf is Ghana and TSG Hoffenheim defender Kasim Adam. Kasim started a promising note with TSG Hoffenheim after joining from Young Boys last season. But got injured in his third game of the season that thwarted his influential role in the team. He has then joined Fortuna Düsseldorf on loan and already the technical team and leadership of the team are in love with his play. Should he blossom, which looks likely, he will be a bit for the Red and Whites.
SC Paderborn 07
Following their promotion into the Bundesliga, SC Paderborn 07 had no option than to sell Bernard Terkpetey to Schalke 04 as was the requirement of his transfer provided Schalke 04 are interested. Despite the transfer of Terkpetey, Paderborn 07 have two other Ghanaian players – Christopher Antwi Adjei and Philimon Tawiah.
Christopher Antwi Adjei is yet to play for Ghana, likewise any other national team. Making him eligible to still feature for Ghana. He’s been one of the most consistent players for Paderborn and a lot will be expected of him.
Philimon Tawiah is a youngster who joined SC Paderborn 07 this summer from the junior side of the club. The former Mighty Jet left back is expected to lighten up the Bundesliga with his intelligent passes and dazzling skills. Though very young, Philimon Tawiah is one of the players to watch this season in the Bundesliga. He will be the reason many residents of Sunyani will rush to grab their StarTimes decoders.
VfL Wolfsburg
At VfL Wolfsburg, John Yeboah Zamora will be the point of attraction for Ghana whenever the Green and Whites are playing.
Yeboah joined VfL Wolfsburg from their junior side and the 19-year old winger is expected to justify his promotion.
FC Köln
The newly promoted side will attract massive Ghanaian interest with the influential Kingsley Schindler on their side. The wonderful winger who joined from Holstein Kiel is swift and pacey and will be very influential to the Red and Whites.
Schindler, a Ghanaian-birn German, is yet to play for any of the senior side of the two countries making him eligible to play for any of the two countries.
By: Sheikh Tophic Sienu @desheikh1 on twitter
