We all expect the likes of Ishmael Abdul Ganiyu and Diawisie Taylor to do well, but what of those players who have massively exceeded expectations and defied all the odds?
Here’s a look at an alternative team of the season, made up of players who couldn’t make the cut in our team of the season.
Richard Attah (GK)
Attah has emerged, seemingly out of nowhere, as one of the division’s most extraordinarily gifted goalkeepers, projecting a calmness and consistency throughout the Hearts’ back four.
His short-passing under pressure is considerably more important. The Phobians were able to recycle possession and build from the back in a way that simply would not be possible with any of the club’s goalkeepers. In 22 games, he kept 12 clean sheets and conceded 13 goals.
Fatawu Mohammed (RB)
It would be quite easy to pack this team with Hearts players after their remarkable season but we have kept it sensible. One man who certainly deserves his place is right-back Fatawu Mohammed who has been a must-have. Leading the Phobians to win the title and registering six assists in the campaign have made him one of the standout defenders in the league and he is a mainstay of a quality Hearts outfit.
He may not have the speed and agility he once had, but his tactical awareness and versatility is invaluable.
Robert Addo (CB)
A key cog in Hearts’ incredible campaign, the versatile Addo was on the of first names on Samuel Boadu’s team sheets.
His partnership with Mohammed Alhassan at the back for the Phobians, not to mention their notorious overlapping runs, took the top division by storm.
Mohammed Alhassan (CB)
Alhassan has been a key figure in the heart of the Hearts defence since his arrival from WAFA in 2018. Despite his early struggles at the beginning of the season, he rose to become the club’s most important player albeit underrated. The intelligent defender is a defensive marvel. The gritty experience he provided was invaluable to the team.
Dennis Korsah (LB)
One player who can feel hard done by not to be in our Team of the Year is full back Dennis Korsah.
It is only the exceptional form of Hearts’ Raddy Ovouka that has kept the Ebusua Dwarfs’ skipper from being recognised for his consistently impressive form in the just ended league season. He netted 5 times and registered 4 assists and surprisingly scored from the set-piece against Hearts and Kotoko.
Lawrence Agyekum (CM)
How on earth did Agyekum miss out on Team of the Year? Despite not scoring or assisting many goals, there is an argument to be made that Agyekum is one of the best midfielders in the country.
Prosper Nartey trusted his midfield engine to play in umpteen positions this campaign, with the lanky midfielder regularly floating between three or four roles at once. Everything WAFA did came through Agyekum, the league’s most intelligent and criminally under-rated player.
George Asamoah (CM)
The Ebusua Dwarfs midfielder has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in Ghanaian football. His technical ability coupled with an impressive work-rate have seen him become one of the most sought out players in the division.
A classic box-to-box midfielder, Asamoah provides the vital glue in midfield. The former Inter Allies and WAFA man can mop up defensively just as well as he can launch attacking plays.
Rashid Nortey (CAM)
Medeama’s Rashid Nortey has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and shone in what has been an indifferent season for the Mauves and Yellows.He always has a trick up his sleeve, even if he hasn’t had the best of matches.
Even if Medeama are willing to sell some of their stars, this boy is untouchable. Nortey is one of the best playmakers in the country, and this season’s exploits only add to his price tag. No matter how much Medeama need the money, Rashid Nortey won’t be on the transfer list.
Samuel Abbey Ashie Quaye (RW)
Quaye has matured considerably this year, improving his final ball and becoming much more consistent under the tutelage of Annor Walker. He is now one of the finest wingers in the game whose brilliance was masked by some popular players in the division.
He has been, in an otherwise remarkable year for Olympics, consistently outstanding.
His reading of the game, confidence in possession, and speed makes Quaye the perfect winger for the modern game.
It’s not just his right wand that dazzles. His extensive repertoire of skills can bamboozle even the most experienced defender, cutting either outside or inside and laying off for a teammate with measured precision.
Maxwell Abbey Ashie Quaye (ST)
Just like his younger brother Samuel, Maxwell took the league by storm. The unsung hero of Olympics’ razor sharp attack is Maxwell Abbey Ashie Quaye, a striker unmatched in his elements. His movement, teamwork, and intelligence are what binds Samuel Quaye and Gladson Awako together. With 10 goals to his credit, Maxwell does not get the love he so deserves despite his talent. He is the complete forward, as effective linking play as he is in the box.
Above all, he offered endless work-rate and intelligence both on and off the ball that contribute to all the fine work Olympics (could) do, hence why his inclusion on this list is justified.
Stephen Amankona (LW)
A regular fixture throughout his stay at Berekum Chelsea, the forward demonstrated his worth to Seth Hoffman in a variety of positions.
While in central midfield he was just as capable, when played in the right-wing slot, the balance he offered to the side was vital. He has the breakneck pace over short distances that mean he can glide past defenders almost unknowingly, and the weight of his touch – first, second, third fourth, etc. – is so meticulous that he’s a menace to get the ball off. His 10 goals this campaign aptly corroborates this claim.
