Ghana defender Akaminko hailed for stopping Didier Drogba in Turkey

Posted On Monday, 11th March 2013

Jerry Akaminko

Ghana defender Jerry Akaminko is being hailed as the best defender in Turkey after stopping Ivory Coast hitman Didier Drogba during a league game in the Turkish top-flight over the weekend.

The Black Stars centre-back, who plays at the right-back position for Eskisehirspor, masterminded the Galatasary striker in Saturday’s Super Lig clash against the giants of Turkish football.

Akaminko was the Eskisehirspor player tasked to mark the dangerous Drogba but the Ghanaian came out with flying colours against the league leaders in a goalless stalemate.

Akaminko was so impressive he caught the attention of former Fenerbahce and Turkey playmaker Ridvan Dilmen who is now a top commentator, analyst and sportswriter.

“Akaminko is the fastest and very talented stopper in Turkey this season and it was fantastic the way he easily stopped Drogba,” Ridvan Dilmen told Ligtv.com.

“He played great and runs faster than last year and I think with him at the back, Eski can get good results and possibly qualify for UEFA Europa League.”

Equally ecstatic is Cemil Guzelok, a self-confessed fanatic of the former Heart of Lions captain. “It was so nice to watch Jerry finish Drogba.

“You know Drogba is a very talented and strong guy and Jerry is not strong but he stopped Drogba, much more he set up Eski attacks,” Cemil told 90 MINUTES exclusively from Turkey before adding on his love for Akaminko since the 24 year old Ghanaian first arrived at Orduspor in 2008:

“In my opinion, Jerry is one of the best air-ball kickers and I always say he should go for cornerkicks so that he can score and when he joined, he scored (against BB Istanbul).

“I am more than his fan, I’m Jerrymania since the very first day he came to Ordu. He is the most talented defender in the league. Thanks to him I know a lot about Ghana.”

Prince Dornu-Leiku / 90 MINUTES

Related Images

READERS COMMENTS

PITO says:

March 11, 2013 at 11:10 am

Our youth soccer academies and colts clubs in Ghana needs to select children with the biological potential to grow tall. You can look at a kid and tell if he will be kapwepwe or not. We have tall men in Ghana doing shoe shine, pushing trog , doing byday e.t.c but look at the average combined height of our Blackstars? Right now I peg it at 100cm. which is pathetic! Look at the height on the new ivorian striker called traore who is about to fill Drogbas boots? look at christiano ronaldo, Benzema, van persie, drogba, the toure brothers, seydou keita, samasa, eto’o e.t.c The more tall children we incorporate into our youth academies the bigger chance we will produce players of decent height. Right now only RBY, Jordan and Gyan have some small height on them. we have the potential to do this! Ghana has the potential to raise more John mensah’s and Vorsah’s albeit with the skill of our short players at the same time. Youth football managers are you reading?

Reply to this Comment
Samedge says:

March 11, 2013 at 11:12 am

I hope this time you didn’t hold Drogba’s jersey like you held Mbokani which resulted penalty in the Afcon

Reply to this Comment
PITO says:

March 11, 2013 at 11:22 am

The Academies should also take nutrition of the youngsters very seriously. So that they can reach their maximum physical potential.

Reply to this Comment
keith from germany says:

March 11, 2013 at 11:30 am

bro samedge i guess u aint well informed about akaminko n if there is someone to blame for his bad performance,then u hav to blame akwesi appiah.
jerry has been playing all this while right-back for his club n he has earned rare reviews in the turkish super lig.
it was akwesi appiah who played him out of position n as the penalty happened in the congo game where was kwadwo asamoah who was supposed at his rightful position eventhough he aint a left fullback?
AA didnt hav the guts to bench pantsil n play jerry instead.
jerry is a very intelligent player who is being used wisely by his european coaches.
jerry do ur thang n dont mind those critics who dont hav any soccerknowledge.

Reply to this Comment
- Ghanaman says:
  
  March 11, 2013 at 11:53 am
  
  With this I agree with you. Coach Appiah is a typical hard headed local coach. No matter how many times you tell them Akaminko is a right back they will say in 1700 B.C. he use to play center back in the local league so, he is a center back!!!
  
  Why can’t Coach Appiah think beyond his nose and use him at right back??? He plays him at center back which is now his second position and, whey he does not do well benches him for the rest of the tournament. Somebody really needs to get in Coach Appiah’s ear and inform him that Akaminko is a RIGHT BACK now!!!
  
  Reply to this Comment
mark says:

March 11, 2013 at 3:04 pm

great to see him doing such a good work and hope he gets one ot the leading top european teams

Reply to this Comment
Samedge says:

March 11, 2013 at 4:37 pm

@ Keith, are saying the position he played forced him to hold striker Mbokani’s jersey? Ha very funny!

Reply to this Comment