The scouting reports compiled by Milovan Rajevac, detailing his verdict on actors seeking to be part of his cast to the next year's double, the CAN and the World Cup will be interesting reading.
First there is a whole bunch of pretenders from the gold winning Under-20 squad who continue to knock the doors for tickets into the senior team and others seeking the wild cards.
Then there are performances in the various leagues both home and abroad which he (Rajevac) keeps a cursory eye on. And he likes them all.
Also the established ones continue to dominate.
Gyan scores in France with Amoah hitting the mark in Holland. And Essien, Muntari and Rahim Ayew also do same in elite leagues of England, Italy and Egypt. Next is the return of Kwadwo Asamoah from injury.
Then there are a host of actors who pull on the shirts of their clubs every match day and it’s all documented in Rajevac’s records but they can’t all get seats on the bus. Besides, he has his requirements.
Form, fitness and adaptability to his methods will be among the ingredients that his actors will need to show to warrant places on the travelling bus.
A total of 29 players have been used by Ghana throughout the entire qualifying campaign prior to the last game at home.
Though some players might have established themselves in Milovan Rajevac's team, the Serbian says he still has spare seats in the dressing room.
With a game to round up the campaign and other international friendlies lined up, Rajevac hopes to run the rule over other names.
"Every player who gets the chance to play would have to play well. I always want to see everyone and that is good for them and the team.
"We have two big competitions (2010 CAN and World Cup) coming up next year and we need every player available to prepare our team.
"And it means there are still spaces to be filled. You never know in football, anything can happen. So everyone would have to be prepared when called," Ghana’s coach Milovan Rajevac said.
Unfortunately for the many actors across the globe, Rajevac can only pick 23 for his Ghana team, regrettably for a majority of them, they would not make it.
But for Isaac Vorsah, nothing rankles than failing to play football but far more troubling is the inability to play for one’s nation.
Few opportunities but hopeful
Not a starter for Rajevac, the TSG Hoffenheim player is aware of the many options at the Serbians disposal. He has played a total of 52 minutes spread over four matches for Ghana in the qualifying for the 2010 CAN and World Cup competitions.
Such a statistic tells the 21 year-old defender who can also play in a central midfield role that he has lots on his hands if he should secure a ticket to Angola and later South Africa.
“I haven’t played much but that’s the situation when you play in a team which has other good players. Competition in the Black Stars is very high. You look over your shoulders and see players like Essien, Muntari, John Mensah, Eric Addo, Paintsil and Jonathan Quartey all in the mix.
“I can’t be distracted by the qualities of such players. All I need to do is to continue working hard at my club and when with the national team.
“Whenever I get the chance, I need to make sure I do my best. It’s always about working for the team and impressing,” Vorsah told www.ghanafa.org in a recent trip to Accra for a national assignment.
The competition for places in the Black Stars might be keen but Vorsah says he’s up for it especially with the many options available in defence.
“Everyone including myself has got to show good form. And that’s important to enable the coach pick a good team.
“The defence seems a position where I guess there are lots of options than other areas. Since I am one of the many options available to him (Rajevac) I will need to get my form right so I am considered for a place in the team and a possible starting role.”
At Hoffenheim, Vorsah is yet to hold down a regular place in the starting line-up but says he wants to keep on learning. And he has some established stars to pick lessons from. Interestingly, two players of different sizes compared to his huge frame comes to mind.
John Mensah is one of such players he looks up to with the other being Michael Essien’s Chelsea teammate Ricardo Carvalho from Portugal.
“I like watching John Mensah and Carvalho a lot. They show strength and go into tackles with accuracy. Their timing and organizing at the back is something I always look out for. They are great players and it’s good to learn from such players. For Mensah, I get to view from close range when the national team is called but TV helps me monitor Carvalho.”
Earning a place on the bus to Angola for the 2010 African Nations Cup in January remains an important fixture on Vorsah’s calendar. He could be celebrating an important step in his young career if he manages to nick that one in.
“It’s always important for one to play and especially doing that for your country at such a stage gives you a lift. The Nations Cup means more to Ghanaians and I would be happy to be part of the squad that could possibly lift a fifth continental title.
“If my performances earn me a place in the team for Angola, it will be good for my career. The motivation is there to make it.”
“The CAN is a step towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in the summer. I have to continue working hard to make it.”
These are not strange times for Vorsah but very exciting moments in the young defender’s career as he seeks to take his chances as and when they come.
That bus is not full yet but right now Vorsah has an awful lot of work to do if he is to enjoy a ride chauffeured by Milovan Rajevac.
