Maxwell Konadu is currently coaching the Legon Cities in Ghana after recently partnering with Serbian coach Milovan Ravejak. We are also talking about a former striker who was part of the brilliant 1992 Olympic generation who won bronze in Barcelona… He arrived in Portugal years later, starting an adventure in Leiria that lasted four seasons while still playing for Beira Mar and Marinhense. A respected figure in Ghana, Konadu even recently appealed to a sense of rapprochement among critics to make the team feel the full strength of the nation in Qatar. In a conversation with A BOLA, Konadu analyzed the clash that marks the entry of the Africans into the competition, namely against Portugal.

“We have a lot of faith in the talent we have in this country. The best example now is Fatavu, who left our league at the age of 18 immediately to Sporting. He is already in the roster and we still have two local players in the roster for the World Cup. In this context, there is a strong belief in the quality of our players, our youth, and this makes us think that we will succeed,” said the former Leiria striker, who played an important role in Leiria’s promotion to the League. in 97/98 with Victor Oliveira. Konadu does not appreciate Ghanaian identities, even if the names Partey, Kudus or Ayu are in the spotlight.

“It is not necessary to name names, not forgetting to underestimate those who spoke to me, but we have enough strength as a nation and as a collective. This Ghana team does not live by individuality, many people who come to Qatar work very hard in their clubs. Portugal are favourites, they have impressive qualities, but they can’t underestimate the ability of the Ghanaians,” says Konadu, acknowledging, yes, the high hopes that revolve around Inaki Williams, the Athletic Bilbao striker recently included in Otto Addo’s plans. “He is highly respected and everyone expects a lot from him at this World Cup,” explains this unconditional fan of the Portuguese national team.

“I can only say that I love Portuguese football. They generate talent like few European countries. I am registered and visited several, I can play in many championships. Portugal is a name that is familiar to everyone, given its constant presence in the elite of world football. This goes back to the days of Eusebio, right up to today, with Cristiano Ronaldo. I think that thanks to the high level of the Portuguese team, the best version of the Ghana national team will appear,” Konadu adds.

“Ayu Paved the Way”

“I like everything about Portugal, from the climate to the style of play. The Portuguese players are mostly techies and this is a strong connection with the Africans. That’s why the African player loves to play in Portugal. I played there and even today I like to plan a vacation in the Algarve,” admits Konadu, still full of the football phase he lived in our country, raising a project full of Ghanaian fantasy in Leiria.

“Kwame Ayew paved the way for the Ghanaians in Portugal. He was great at clubs like Sporting CP and Boavista. In his time he was an unstoppable striker, and it was he who brought chances to others. I arrived, Lamptey, Augustine, Mark Edusey and Dua. And just look at what we all played in Leiria,” he says.
“We always met after the Sunday games and made a big delicacy of Ghanaian food. Great moments, we were always happy for Portugal,” admits Conado, who also showed the quality of the Portuguese player in the late nineties.

“It was already great. Those were the days of Rui Costa. From that time to the present, no one can deprive Portuguese football of its value. They always have good teams with an unconditional winning mentality,” confirms Konadu, going back to the time when Ghana had stars of the caliber of Abedi Pele or Yeboah, who are part of the first group of Africans revered in Europe.

“This generation has nothing to do with today. They were morally much stronger than they are now, they sold African football to European football very positively. It was a special generation for any Ghanaian,” concludes the current coach of Legon Cities.