Daniel Addo was a little bit hurt when he missed the chance to play for the silver-winning local Black Stars at the CHAN in March under Milovan Rajevac. But seven months later, he was on hand to help Ghana lift the Fifa U-20 World Cup last month in Egypt.
Addo was dismissed in the finals of the U-20 competition and the pain of an early exit was placated by the team’s success after beating Brazil on penalties.
Now, the young King Faisal central defender has earned the chance to be part of the regular senior team, the Black Stars, after Milovan Rajevac called him up into the squad for the final game of the African qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup and an international friendly with Angola.
“The whole world watched the tournament and Coach Milovan Rajevac was also in camp with us in Egypt. He spoke to us on a number issues and I believe I was one of the players who impressed him.” Addo told www.ghanafa.org about his debut call up into the Black Stars.
With the chance of playing with the senior team a life-time ambition for the footballer who is also a musician and a religious person - a youth leader in the Presbyterian Church – Addo says he was surprised with his debut invitation.
“I missed the boat to the CHAN (African Nations Championship) tournament and decided to work very hard to get the attention of national team handlers.
“I thought this call was too early but my performance speaks for itself. I am very happy I will get the exposure. And for the first time in my career, I am going to rub shoulders with the Appiahs, Essiens, Muntaris and Kingstons and the others.”
The 20 year-old centre-back who can also play at full-back is a strong defender who keeps it simple and his comfort on the ball has always promised a bright future.
But the young defender says he is keen to impress when thrown into the mix. Addo explains that he’s watched the performances of John Mensah and Eric Addo and is confident that he can pair with any of them if he gets to make his debut.
“That in no way means I am going to raise my shoulders but I will respect my seniors, be submissive and learn from them knowing very well that it is through this that I can well bond with the rest of the squad,” he said.
Addo is one of the six members of the World U-20 winning team included in the 20-man Ghana squad to face Mali in the final game of the African qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup on November 15 and an international friendly with Angola three days later.
“Luckily, I will have the likes of Andre Ayew, Agyeman Badu and Inkoom who are already members of the Black Stars as well as newly called members Adiyiah and Adjei to look up to apart from my senior colleagues.”
Ghana will head into the final qualifier on the continent having already secured their places at the Nations Cup in Angola and the World Cup to be hosted by South Africa.
The Black Stars sit top in Group D, four points ahead of their opponents for the game against Mali at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
The friendly with Angola would be played in Luanda on November 18 as the CAN hosts test their stadium ahead of the finals.