THE TALENTED TEENAGER FROM BAWKU: Manaf Gumah Jnr
Many great players have graced our football scene from the
Northern part of the country. From the days of 'Soccer Maestro' Abedi
Ayew Pele, Mohammed Polo, Abdul Razak 'The Golden Boy' to Sulley
Muntari and Mubarak Wakaso of the current generation, our national teams
have been serenaded with fine talents from up North. The youth teams
have benefited as much as the senior Black Stars with the likes of
Mohammed Gargo, Awudu Issaka and many others entertaining us with their
powerful long range shots and silky dribbling skills.
In the past decade or a bit longer, Bawku in the Upper East Region has been a town of violence, chaos and conflicts. Rival clashes between the two Abudu and Andani factions have been a source of worry and disturbance to the whole country, until the recent enskinment of a new Ya'Na ensured peace has returned to the area. But in all the doom and gloom emerged a gem, a bright star and a prodigious talent. Another gifted footballer from the northern part of Ghana. Manaf Gumah Jnr is a 17-year-old who has risen from the storm and challenges of Bawku into the Accra Hearts of Oak senior team. His talent, obvious from his early years as he was the captain of his school team at Bawku SHS. He played for Bawku Wonderful Stars after graduating from school. In 2016, he moved to Real Bawku United, a First Division team in his town. Eye-catching performances meant he wasn't going to remain in Bawku for long. He moved to Auroras, where many talented players have been developed to join mother club Accra Hearts of Oak. Manaf made a great impact at Auroras and was top scorer of the side in 2017. He was subsequently promoted to the Hearts of Oak side but it wasn't all plain sailing for the young playmaker. Frank Nuttal, Phobia coach at the time complained his physique was to small to play in the Ghana Premier League. A knee injury suffered in training didn't make matters any easy for young Manaf and he had to return to Auroras. The potential of Manaf combined with the departure of Nuttal ensured it wasn't long before he returned back to the fold of the Phobians. "I just had to be patient and work hard and I knew at the right time I was going to make it to the Hearts of Oak side. I am now ready". Young Manaf says he will work hard at the training grounds and in matches to earn a call-up into the Ghana U-20 side, the Black Satellites. With Kim Grant now at the helm of affairs at the rainbow boys, Manaf says Grant is a good coach and there is a tremendous improvement of all the players under him. Asked about his best position, the midfielder said "My favourite position is an attacking midfielder but I have played as a Number 10 so many times at Auroras". He added "Kim Grant wants me to be able to play all the attacking positions. Right wing, left wing, behind the striker so I am working hard and I'm able to play all those positions just fine. I can even play defensive midfielder(6) as well". Manaf aspires to go as far as the senior national team , the Black Stars and said "Insha Allah" he will be a future Black Stars player.
Manaf Gumah Jnr is a proof that if the current peace can be maintained in Dagbon , great things will come out of there. Probably more football talents from Bawku!
In the past decade or a bit longer, Bawku in the Upper East Region has been a town of violence, chaos and conflicts. Rival clashes between the two Abudu and Andani factions have been a source of worry and disturbance to the whole country, until the recent enskinment of a new Ya'Na ensured peace has returned to the area. But in all the doom and gloom emerged a gem, a bright star and a prodigious talent. Another gifted footballer from the northern part of Ghana. Manaf Gumah Jnr is a 17-year-old who has risen from the storm and challenges of Bawku into the Accra Hearts of Oak senior team. His talent, obvious from his early years as he was the captain of his school team at Bawku SHS. He played for Bawku Wonderful Stars after graduating from school. In 2016, he moved to Real Bawku United, a First Division team in his town. Eye-catching performances meant he wasn't going to remain in Bawku for long. He moved to Auroras, where many talented players have been developed to join mother club Accra Hearts of Oak. Manaf made a great impact at Auroras and was top scorer of the side in 2017. He was subsequently promoted to the Hearts of Oak side but it wasn't all plain sailing for the young playmaker. Frank Nuttal, Phobia coach at the time complained his physique was to small to play in the Ghana Premier League. A knee injury suffered in training didn't make matters any easy for young Manaf and he had to return to Auroras. The potential of Manaf combined with the departure of Nuttal ensured it wasn't long before he returned back to the fold of the Phobians. "I just had to be patient and work hard and I knew at the right time I was going to make it to the Hearts of Oak side. I am now ready". Young Manaf says he will work hard at the training grounds and in matches to earn a call-up into the Ghana U-20 side, the Black Satellites. With Kim Grant now at the helm of affairs at the rainbow boys, Manaf says Grant is a good coach and there is a tremendous improvement of all the players under him. Asked about his best position, the midfielder said "My favourite position is an attacking midfielder but I have played as a Number 10 so many times at Auroras". He added "Kim Grant wants me to be able to play all the attacking positions. Right wing, left wing, behind the striker so I am working hard and I'm able to play all those positions just fine. I can even play defensive midfielder(6) as well". Manaf aspires to go as far as the senior national team , the Black Stars and said "Insha Allah" he will be a future Black Stars player.
Manaf Gumah Jnr is a proof that if the current peace can be maintained in Dagbon , great things will come out of there. Probably more football talents from Bawku!
Report by Abraham Okata.
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