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Former Black Stars midfielder reacts to media speculation about plans to return to active soccer with the Porcupine Warriors
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has dismissed reports of an imminent transfer to Ghanaian giant Asante Kotoko, but does not completely rule out the possibility.
Local reports say the former Ghana international is considering returning to active soccer, more than a year after prematurely retiring from the beautiful game due to lingering injury problems.
He last played for Ermis Aradippou in Cyprus, after which he hung up his boots at age 27 in March last year.
“At the moment, if I’m honest, it’s far from the truth and there is nothing concrete,” Frimpong told TV3.
“You’re never ready unless they put you to the test. At the moment, obviously, I’ve been out of the game for many years and it will take me a couple of months to get back to the physical condition that I think is required to play.
“The football brain will always be there, but for now, if that were the case, I would have to work on my fitness.
“That’s the most important thing, but I go to the gym and run a lot and I don’t feel any pain in my knee, so if the opportunity comes and I feel good, I will take the opportunity to play.
“I support Kotoko and if I had the chance it would be one of the most important days of my life.”
Born in the Ghanaian city of Kumasi, the same city where Kotoko is based, Frimpong moved to the UK at the age of four, where he joined the Arsenal academy at the age of nine.
He progressed to represent the Gunners at the senior level, going on to play for players like Wolverhampton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and Fulham, all on loan.
In 2014, he permanently severed ties with Arsenal to join the lower-tier English team Barnsley and subsequently moved to Russia to play for Ufa and Arsenal Tula.
Swedish team Elkilstuna signed the midfielder in 2016 for a brief period before transferring to Ermis Aradippou in Cyprus.
The 28-year-old represented England at the U-16 and U-17 levels before swapping his international alliance to make his Ghana debut in a 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Sudan in 2013.
Kotoko, arguably the largest club in Ghana and the most successful team in Premier League history, has been active in the transfer market ahead of the 2020-21 national soccer season that begins in November.
