Gerald Asamoah: "Everyone talks about the Africa Cup" | Sports | '
Deutsche Welle: What does the Africa Cup mean for you – even if you once decided to go for the German national team? They have Ghanaian roots and regularly visit Africa.
Gerald Asamoah: The connection was always there. The first tournament I watched was the Africa Cup in 1992. It was all still on TV back then. Stars like Athony Yeboah, Anthony Baffoe, Abedi Pele played. I had to record all games with VHS video cassettes so my dad could watch them when he came home from work. I have never forgotten that and I have developed such a lasting relationship with the Africa Cup.
Did you come to football through the Africa Cup?
Anthony Yeboah was my great role model. And as a child, I hoped that I could get where he plays. But I have played football since I can think. I always have barefoot on any clay courts in Accra (Ghana's capital, note ed.) bolted with my friends. That I would become a professional footballer, I was far from that thought. That came much later, when I was in Germany. Here I played for the first time with football boots, I did not know that at all.
How big is the interest in Africa in this cup, how does the population react to that?
Of course, I know what's going on there – not just in Ghana – when the tournament is on. Football is the first sport, everyone talks about it. There is actually only one topic, whether on the street, on the radio or on TV. There is no such thing as public viewing in this country with many thousands of people. But when the games are running, everyone is watching and the streets are almost empty.
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How, for example, does a German differ from African teams?
This can not be generalized as we speak of a whole continent with many different countries. But I know exactly what's going on in many camps or on the bus. The players are looser. There is singing, dancing, drumming. There is really something going on. The German bus is rather quiet, everyone has headphones in their ear, reads or listens to music. I used to visit Ghana as a national team training camp. And what was going on, that was already violent. I would also like to have participated from beginning to end. Sometimes I'm impressed with how players manage to focus on one game. I'm more German like that (laughs). But to experience it would have irritated me on the other side.
The Africa Cup will be held for the first time with 24 instead of 16 teams. This acts as a further inflation of a competition as currently common in international football?
It can be argued that only the best teams should be included in the finals. But I think that African football wins a lot, even if smaller football nations can play along. The countries, which are always eliminated in qualifying anyway, there is the interest in the Africa Cup certainly much smaller or not available. That's a pity. If they are present, it will spark an incredible euphoria, such as in Benin, Mauritania, Madagascar or Burundi. This gives the whole country extra self-confidence, so I think it's good that something has changed. And who knows, maybe one or the other great talent will be discovered from these hitherto neglected nations.
Ghana's former top striker Anthony Yeboah
The Africa Cup takes place for the first time in summer. The appointment change is to prevent problems with the release of players from European clubs. A good decision?
On the one hand, I find that very good for the clubs, where the players are not so long missing. But also for those players who want to and have to perform well in their clubs. You can concentrate fully on the season and do not have to go away for nearly two months. You then have a shorter vacation. But for them it is also an honor for their respective country to play at the Africa Cup. They gladly accept that.
There are at least twenty players from the Bundesliga and the second league in the squad of the African teams. What are the African players?
In many African countries, the players are usually very athletic, on the other hand, they often lack the technical and tactical training. For example, when they come to Europe, some may not make really good distance shots. That's because nobody really explained it to the boys. It changes though. There are now academies where young players are well trained. But the educational differences between the two continents are still enormous.
Are there other differences?
For example, when players come to Germany, some often wonder how strict it is here. That's a culture shock for her. That's why, from my point of view, it's very important that the right people take care of them and take them a step. They do not understand the language, do not know the food, have never seen snow (laughs), all such things. Many clubs still do not do that right. That is why some very good players are failing here. That would not have to be.
Senegal's star striker Sadio Mané (center)
Who is the favorite for you at this tournament?
I wish that Ghana could do it again. But Senegal have right top players with Sadio Mané or Salif Sané. Morocco also has a good team. And also hosts Egypt is of course strong. Ghana is a secret favorite for me.
Would you possibly decide against Germany and Ghana today?
No, I have always felt comfortable in Germany and I made this decision from the gut. Of course, the risk here was to make fewer international appearances. In Ghana I would have had it a bit easier. But I would decide that again.
The interview was conducted by Jörg Strohschein
Gerald Asamoah was born in the Ghanaian capital Accra. In his twelfth year he moved to Germany, where he lived in Hanover and later became a professional footballer near Hannover. His most successful time saw Asamoah at FC Schalke 04, with whom he won the DFB Cup twice in a row. As a national player, he made it to the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea. In 2015, Asamoah ended his active career. Today he works at the Schalke and is a hotel owner in Accra, where he is also regularly on site.
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