Thursday, 27 June, 2002, 11:04 GMT 12:04 UK
Asamoah's World Cup dreams
By Mark Gleeson
BBC Sport Online


Senegal fell by the wayside at the World Cup quarter-finals but African
interest in the tournament remains in the form of Gerald Asamoah, Germany's
Ghanaian-born striker.

A member of Rudi Voeller's 23-man squad at the tournament, he could yet
feature in Sunday's final against Brazil in Yokohama.


Asamoah, who plays for Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga, has played a minor role
in South Korea and Japan thus far.


" I spent a lot of time in church and praying when the doctors said I might
not be able to play again "
Gerald Asamoah



He came on as a late substitute in two matches, including the semi-final win
over the Koreans on Tuesday.

Born in Mampong, Ghana, Asamoah moved to Germany as a child but only became
a citizen recently.

He made his international against Slovakia in May 2001 and has scored two
goals in 13 appearances for Germany.

The 23-year-old started his career at amateur club Werder Hanover and then
moved to Hanover 96, in the Bundesliga second division.


But he had to take a break when a heart condition, similar to Nwankwo
Kanu's, threatened to end his career.

"I spent a lot of time in church and praying when the doctors said I might
not be able to play again," Asamoah said.

Fortunately, surgery solved the problem.

Heroes

Asamoah subsequently moved to Schalke and modelled his game on compatriot
Tony Yeboah, one of the best strikers in Bundesliga history.

"I always marvelled at his goals, we both come from the Ashanti people. He
was an example to me, an idol. I hope that my path will follows his,"
Asamoah said.


Furious with Ghana for ignoring his talent, Asamoah says he is nevertheless
still close to Africa.


"My grandmother still lives near Kumasi and Ghana is a beautiful land, the
best place for holidays."

But he insists he is more comfortable in his adopted homeland.

"I've lived in Germany since I was nine and I feel German. I have lots of
friends and feel I've been accepted," he said.

If Asamoah plays a role in a German triumph on Sunday, he will become the
third Africa-born player, after Marcel Desailly and Patrick Vieira, to win
the biggest prize in football.

The current pair, born in Ghana and Senegal respectively, formed an
important part of France's winning team in1998.

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