Columbus Crew the new haven for Ghanaian players!

Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit Columbus Crew SC is gradually becoming a haven for Ghanaian players. 

First, it was Black Stars defender Harrison Afful whose nearly two seasons with the Crew can be described as a huge success. 

Then last two weeks, young defender Alhassan Lalas Abubakar joined Columbus Crew as the fifth overall pick during the 2017 SuperDraft.

Columbus Crew head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter was hopeful that Lalas Abubakar will complement Ghanaian compatriots Harrison Afful and Jonathan Mensah in defense. Mensah, who is currently on international duty with the Black Stars together with Afful, joined the Crew early January. 

The former Anzhi Makhachkala star will join a growing number of Ghanaians in the MLS when the 2017 season commences in March.

The 26-year-old Mensah was expected to play alongside Ghanaian teammate Afful in the heart of Columbus Crew SC’s defense after the Columbus outfit signed him on as a Designated Player. Then, came Lalas Abubakar, another Ghanaian defender. 

Columbus Crew's love story with Ghanaians did not end there.

The Crew on Tuesday announced that the club has acquired another Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Abu as a Special Discovery Player. 

Abu, 25, most recently played for Stromsgodset IF in Norway’s topflight. He will officially be added to the Black & Gold roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa. Abu will occupy an international spot on the Black & Gold roster.

The 25-year-old midfielder has made 163 professional appearances (154 starts) across all competitions in Spain, France and Norway, scoring five goals and providing three assists. His previous experience includes playing for Stromsgodset IF in Norway’s Eliteserien, spending time in France’s First Division — Ligue 1 — with FC Lorient and featuring for Rayo Vallecano in La Liga — Spain’s topflight. 

The Ghanaian player also has experience in UEFA Champions League Qualifiers and UEFA Europa League Qualifiers. In 2011, while with Stromsgodset IF, he played against Atletico Madrid for 180 minutes over the course of two legs in an UEFA Europa League Qualifier.

“Mohammed is a talented, technical player that we believe will fit well into our system and style of play,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “Across his experience in Norway, France and Spain, we believe that a combination of his experience, skillset and character will be a good fit for Crew SC. We are glad to have him in Columbus and it is certainly an added bonus that he is familiar with the area as his wife has lived in Central Ohio.”

In all, Abu made 152 appearances (144 starts), scored five goals and contributed three assists over the course of six seasons with Stromsgodset IF. The midfielder was originally signed by Manchester City in August of 2010, before being sent on loan to Stromsgodset IF. 

He made his debut with the Eliteserien team in a home match against Molde FK in September of that year. That same season, Abu helped Stromsgodset IF win the Norwegian Football Cup, Norway’s Domestic Cup. 

From 2010-2012, Abu played alongside current Crew SC teammate Ola Kamara.

For more stories on Ghanaian soccer players in North America, log on to Ghana Soccer US

Ghana’s Abu Danladi is the first overall pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft

Ghana's Abu Danladi with MLS Commissioner Don Garber

 Ghana’s youngster Abu Danladi has been selected by Major League Soccer (MLS)’s expansion side Minnesota United as the first overall pick of the 2017 SuperDraft.

The first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft selected at least three known Ghanaian soccer players with other players with Ghanaian backgrounds making the first and second round picks.

The SuperDraft is an annual event, taking place in January of each year, in which the teams of MLS select players who have graduated from college or otherwise been signed by the league.

Last year, Joshua Yaro, Richmond Laryea and Emmanuel Appiah made Ghana proud when they earned first round picks by their teams, with Yaro earning the second overall pick by Philadelphia Union.

Danladi, 21, has surpassed Yaro’s record after becoming the first overall pick of the 2017 edition as he joins expansion side Minnesota United.

Danladi was born in Takoradi, Ghana. He moved to the United States in 2011 as a product of the Right to Dream Academy – a program that helps talented children from West Africa fulfill their potential by providing educational and athletic opportunities. He attended Dunn High School, winning the 2013-14 Gatorade National Player of the Year award before committing to UCLA.

According to the head coach of Minnesota United, Adrian Heath, striker Danladi is a special talent and will get better with time.

“Just huge potential, there were two or three kids that we thought were very good players, but we just feel that the upside on this kid, the sky is the limit for him.

 “If we think he can do what he can do in the pro game and we think there is a lot of growth still in him as a player and as a person, then we could have a real special talent on our hands. I think the fact that nearly every club in MLS contacted us at some point too, talking about maybe wanting to trade for the pick tells us what everyone else thinks about him as well.”

Also making the first round pick is young defender Alhassan Lalas Abubakar who joins Columbus Crew SC as the fifth overall pick.

Columbus Crew head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter is hopeful that Lalas Abubakar will complement Ghanaian compatriot Harrison Afful and Jonathan Mensah at the heart of defense.

“With Lalas, he’s a very competitive guy. A lot of resiliency and very physically strong. We expect him to help out on the back line.”

In 2014, Abubakar was named Third Team NSCAA All-Midwest Region and Second Team All-Ohio. He was also named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, UAB All-Tournament Team as well as the Dayton Defensive Player of the Year.

As a junior in 2015, Abubakar was First Team NSCAA All-Midwest Region, First Team All-Ohio, First Team Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team and once again named the Dayton Defensive Player of the Year. He was also on the Academic All-Ohio team.

In his final year of college, Abubakar was Second Team NSCAA All-Midwest Region, First Team Atlantic 10 All-Conference and the Atlantic 10 Conference Defender of the Year.

“I want to thank Columbus Crew SC for believing in me and then giving me a great opportunity. I really appreciate it and I can’t wait to start with the club”, the young Ghanaian defender noted after his selection.

Another Ghanaian product of Right to Dream, Dominic Oduro (not Dominic Oduro of Montreal Impact) was picked by Seattle Sounders as the 44^th overall pick.

Some other players with Ghanaian connections were selected. They include DC United’s number 12 pick Chris Odoi-Atsem, Seattle Sounders’ 22^nd pick Brian Nana-Sinkam as well as New York City FC’s number 16 pick Kwame Awuah.