Emmanuel Frimpong: The end of a chapter

He’s a name not on everyone’s lips. In fact, he might not be on everyone’s mind when you think about the talents that Africa has produced in the past decade. Emmanuel Frimpong is a Ghanaian international who low-key graced the European scene and played in the English Premier League, Russian Premier League, Cypriot First Division and even appeared in the Swedish League. The African player has been unfortunate to join the list of football players that are forced into retirement due to injury. Here’s a snippet of the player’s journey thus far.

Early career: Arsenal

Emmanuel Frimpong of FC Ufa in action during the Russian Premier League match between PFC CSKA Moscow and FC Ufa at the Arena Khimki Stadium on November 29, 2014 in Khimki, Russia.

(Nov. 28, 2014 - Source: Epsilon/Getty Images Europe)

Emmanuel Frimpong is a product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Jack Wilshere in the junior leagues before his colleague made a quick transition to first team football as soon as he turned 16. Frimpong was made to wait for his opportunity under Arsene Wenger with the midfield packed with internationals offering a wide range of skills and talent. The defensive midfielder could only manage a total of 16 first team appearances including a notable night in Reading where the gunners made a miraculous come-back to win 7-5 after having been four goals down in a Carling Cup fixture. Seeing his colleagues progressing in their careers whilst he was on the sidelines could not cut it for the ambitious youngster, so he decided to leave Arsenal at the age of 24.

Injury plagued career

It is no surprise that he struggled to succeed at Arsenal considering the fact that he suffered two major injuries which disrupted his progress. Frimpong suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) damage in one of his knees which haunted him throughout his career. This could only mean that the player was not able to give his best thus being shipped off to other leagues and clubs. In the end, the player has represented Charlton, Barnsley, Fulham, Ufa, AFC Eskilstuna and Ermis in his short time in football. However, it might have been a different tale had he sworn allegiance to England.

Switching allegiance to Ghana

Although the player was born in Kumasi, Ghana, he had the opportunity to choose England as his national team. It could only make sense considering that he had represented them at various youth levels while he was part of the Arsenal team that won the FA Youth Cup and two Premier Academy League titles. Just like any other English player, Frimpong was hyped up and being mooted to be the next Paul Scholes. Instead, Frimpong aspired to play for his native home, Ghana and he was quoted to having said, “I have always told my family that if Ghana calls me, I will personally ride my own bicycle from England to Ghana [to play for the Black Stars]”. He did not care about the fact that he was still being called up for the England U-21 team because his dream was to represent the African team. In 2011, the player’s dream became a reality as he was cleared to play for Ghana but it came at a cost. All the hype and attention was quickly flushed down the drain.

Popularly known for?

Emmanuel Frimpong of Arsenal is watched by Samir Nasri of Manchester City during the Carling Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on November 29, 2011 in London, England.

(Nov. 28, 2011 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Frimpong was well-known for his off-the-pitch antics than his performances on the pitch. The African was used to dropping controversial statements on his social media accounts which often got him in trouble. One time, he threw jabs at his new employers on Instagram after news broke that he was leaving Arsenal for Barnsley. He said, “How am I gonna draw girls now?” when lamenting about his move to the lower league club.

Also, he had his fair share of punishment from the English Football Association for posting offensive tweets directed at a fan. Frimpong was just too much.

Retirement announcement

Emmanuel Frimpong announced his retirement on the 8th of March 2019 after a long consideration of his future and well-being. The player had struggled with a knee injury for the past 5 years which saw him play through pain. The defensive midfielder said, “since November 2017 I haven't been in action as I had a tear in my knee ligament. I decided with my own will that I will not opt for the operation since I was not enjoying football playing through pain.” Spending some time out of the game with his family made him realize that he is blessed and he plans on being available for his daughter more now that he has hung up his boots.

Farewell Emmanuel! All the best in your future endeavors.

“Just like any other English player, Frimpong was hyped up and being mooted to be the next Paul Scholes. Instead, Frimpong aspired to play for his native home, Ghana and he was quoted to having said, “I have always told my family that if Ghana calls me, I will personally ride my own bicycle from England to Ghana [to play for the Black Stars]”.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Did Seri cut himself short by joining Premier League strugglers, Fulham?

You know someone is a big a deal when the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal are repeatedly reported to be casting in their bids in hope of landing the player’s signature. Such was the predicament of Jean Michel Seri, who was once upon a time tipped to be “Xavi’s replacement” at Barcelona, or fill the shoes of Santi Cazorla at Arsenal. The Ivorian international was honestly spoiled for choice and a choice he did make, but an unpopular one.

“...But the dynamic Seri we were used to, the one who ran at players, created something out of nothing and meandered through the midfield players like the first rain on desert rocks, may slowly be reaching extinction. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

In the summer of 2018, Fulham FC who had just been promoted to the English top flight announced the signing of the box to box midfielder for a record club fee believed to be in the region of £25 million. The ingenious midfielder whom we came to know as Jean Michel Seri had already made a name for himself, growing up in the streets of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. They all nicknamed him, “Galla” after Marcelo Gallardo, the former Monaco and PSG midfielder he looked up to. What really made him a real prospect were the OGC Nice years. Playing with the likes of Mario Balotelli upfront, Seri lighted up the French Ligue 1. Over three years, he recorded a remarkable 21 assists and scored 12 goals from a deep-lying midfield position, not an attacking one. During that time when Naby Keita was running the show at RB Leipzig, Seri was doing the same if not better at Nice. He won the Marc Vivien Foe Award for the best African Player in the Ligue 1 for the year 2017, became the 2017 OGC Nice Player of the Year and was included in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year in that remarkable 2017 for the Ivorian. He looked ready and sure first XI player for any of Europe’s big clubs but chose the promoted Fulham instead. Speaking to the media on the strange move, Seri highlighted that Fulham were the most serious side in their pursuit for his signature henceforth settling for the Craven Cottagers. His move was largely labelled as a “steal” for Fulham by many of the top football analysts, players and media houses. In other terms, he really seemed too good for the Whites.

Andre Schurrle and Jean Michael Seri of Fulham during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Arsenal FC at Craven Cottage on October 7, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

And now, Fulham is one of the sides fighting a tough relegation battle, currently seated at the second bottom position on the Premier League standings. The 27-year-old Seri has only managed a solitary goal and 2 assists in 19 premier league matches. Most of his playing time at the club is now devoted to stopping opponents’ fires instead of creating one for the opposition. He has had to learn to sit back and defend more at Fulham than at any point of his career. Of course he has had one or two special moments that include winning the Premier League Goal of the Month for August 2018, but the dynamic Seri we were used to, the one who ran at players, created something out of nothing and meandered through the midfield players like the first rain on desert rocks, may slowly be reaching extinction. Even at the prime age of his career where according to many, he should be winning all the major trophies and building a concrete legacy like those of compatriots such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure.

This leaves one to question on whether or not Seri short-changed himself by signing for a relegation threatened side when he had the choice of playing UEFA Champions League football. However, career choices usually implicate more than the perceived and it’s up to the owner of the career anywhere.

One fact still stands, whether he has the chance to manifest it or not, Seri remains one special footballer, a joy to behold when he finds himself in his element.

Will Ivory Coast’s Jean Seri be enough for Fulham?

“With his midfield boxing ability and agility, he looks exactly like what Fulham needs but has had since the beginning of the season.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Sometimes when a ship sinks, it’s not all the mighty men that are called out for help, but rather many call upon the name of the captain. Fulham is finding itself in a similar position where relegation is looming closer than any possible win. With that threat slowly becoming a reality, players and fans have looked around and cast their eyes on Jean Michel Seri. Will the Ivorian be enough to stop what might befall the Cottagers or will he possibly go down together with the London ‘ship’.

Looming Danger

Jean Michael Seri poses with the Carling Goal of the Month Award for August 2018 at Fulham FC Training Ground on September 12, 2018 in New Malden, England.

(Sept. 11, 2018 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Fulham were recently promoted to the English Premier League after waiting for a while. In the 2015/2016 season, they finished 20th in the EFL Championship and were saved from relegation by 11 points. In typical water into wine staff, they got the “We are finally Premier League” card in June of this year. Even though they are stars in the current LilyWhites setup acquired for over £120 million in the summer, things are not looking good for the West Londoners as they are rock-bottom on the Premier League standings with a single win in 12 matches.

Technical Ability

With his midfield boxing ability and agility, he looks exactly like what Fulham needs but has had since the beginning of the season. His former coach, Slavisa Jokanovic, who just got axed was quoted saying, “Fulham does not have players like that, so he has come as the right answer.” The talented midfielder is physically fit in a way that is worthy of the Premier League which is arguably the most demanding league in Europe. He knows how to snatch the ball from the opponent while possessing the ability to shoot  from distance. Above that, he is quite acquainted with the 3-5-2 or 4-2-3 formations that demand very gifted midfielders like himself. With what he has to offer, is it enough for him to help his team survive the chop? It is argued that if a player has the ability to play in the formation that most teams in the league play, then victory is not something that is far off. It is also a bit too early in the league to draw conclusions about relegation in the league as we are only 12 games into it. A lot can still change and Seri can still show up more for the Cottagers.

Bigger Challenge

Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City shakes hands with manager Claudio Ranieri as he is replaced during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Leicester City at Selhurst Park on March 19, 2016 in London, United Kingdom.

(March 18, 2016 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

The challenge is that the issue of relegation does not come as a result of one player and cannot be solved by individuals. Tim Sherwood, the former Tottenham manager cited the lack of quality of players in the squad as a reason for the relegation fears. He said the problem even goes beyond the way they play but it lies deeply with the caliber of players that they have bought. What that then means is that in spite of how good the 27-year-old Jean Serri can be, he cannot save his team from relegation. After all, he is just a midfielder, who takes up so much space of the field and cannot be a complete squad on his own. Furthermore, Fulham also spent over £120 million purchasing new players into the team. Having a lot of new players is coin toss as you have may people who are not accustomed to the style of play of the team. Being a great player is one thing, but being merged into the culture of a team is a game changer. With all the challenges that the team is facing, it becomes even more evident that the talent and dedication of the Ivorian midfielder may not enough to save the day.

The final word, though, is that the talks about relegation might be a bit premature at this point. A single game can change a team’s course. We will sit back and see if the highly rated Jean Michel Seri who previously attracted the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona before eventually switching to West London, will be enough to avert Fulham’s relegation. Additionally, the sacking of Slavisa Jokanovic and appointment of Claudio Ranieri who led Leicester City to a fairytale premier league title in the 2015/16 season could be an interesting plot twist for Fulham and Seri. Other African players such as Riyad Mahrez and Jeffrey Schlupp shined under Ranieri’s tenure at the Foxes. Seri and Fulham may be the latest beneficiaries of his abilities and experience, or not.

We will be watching.

African midfield trio help Fulham secure a point against Watford

The Premier League weekend kicked off with new boys Fulham welcoming highflying Watford who had won all of their first four matches, only losing to Jose Mourinho and Manchester United in the fifth. It is in games with opposition outside the so called “big six” that the Whites’ big money signing, Jean Michel Seri would be expected to really have a go, splash his creative juices and run the match from start to finish. As expected, Watford proved to be a tricky opposition, forcing the Craven Cottagers to start on the back foot after Andre Gray had put the visitors ahead in the second minute.

The Ivorian, Seri and his teammates were forced to play ping pong basic football as the Premier League fourth placed team showed why they had done so well in their first matches of the season. There was simply no place for Jean Michel Seri and his creative juices to flow in the first half. Watford’s defence marshalled by Belgian-Congolese, Christian Kabasele was as cool as ice, pocketing Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic who had proved lethal in all his Fulham matches from the time he was loaned from Newcastle and most recently when they made the move permanent in the summer. Up front, a much slimmer Troy Deeney who recently lost close to 6.4kilos in weight continued enjoying dividends of his new shape as he partnered with Andre Gray. It was business as usual in the midfield and the flanks as arguably Watford’s best player of the campaign so far, Roberto Pereyra, William Hughes and Abdoulaye Doucoure emerged as a superior backbone while Holebas ran up and down the left wing at will. After watching the first-half, one would be tempted to conclude that Fulham could be easily one of the easiest candidates for relegation and that their over £100 million expenditure on transfers in the summer was misdirected. However, things took a different twist in the second forty-five minutes.

Floyd Ayite of Fulham and Daryl Janmaat of Watford in action during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Watford FC at Craven Cottage on September 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 21, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

“With Seri, Ayite and 22-year old Anguissa now deployed as Fulham’s backbone, tables turned. The West-African flavor now present, helped bring the best out of everyone else at the Cottage. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Fulham in action during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Watford FC at Craven Cottage on September 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 21, 2018 - Source: Steve Bardens/Getty Images Europe)

Fulham Manager, Slavisa Jokanovic made two changes in the midfield of three, bringing in Togolese international, Floyd Ayite and Cameroonian prodigy, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa who joined them in the summer from French Ligue 1 side, Marseille. With Seri, Ayite and 22-year old Anguissa now deployed as Fulham’s backbone, tables turned. The West-African flavor now present, helped bring the best out of everyone else at the Cottage. England teenager, Ryan Sessegnon found his rhythm in the left-wing back position putting out any fires and racing upfield at the slightest of opportunities. He even burst his nose at some point but changed his shirt and ran back into the match. Argentine Luciano Vietto on loan from Atletico Madrid got his playmaker instincts resuscitated as a more spirited Fulham led from the midfield by the Ivory Coast-Togo-Cameroon trio pressed for an equalizer.

It eventually came in the 78th minute as Vietto won the ball on the left flank and setup Mitrovic for his fifth goal of the season launching him to the top of EPL scoring charts alongside Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. He could have had a second but Watford goalkeeper, Ben Forster was equal to every challenge and ensured the match finished tied at one goal apiece. Mitrovic who was pocketed the entire first-half of the match by Kabasele now looked the most dangerous player on the pitch. The African midfield personnel deployed in the second half by Fulham really lifted the spirit of the team and their game play.

The question for Jokanovic now will be whether he will stick to his guns or sacrifice even the captain of the team, Kevin McDonald to deploy Seri, Anguissa and Ayite? Oh perhaps change the tactics to accommodate all? Only time will tell. Fulham will visit Everton this coming weekend before welcoming Arsenal at the Craven Cottage the following one.

As for Cameroon, Togo and Ivory Coast, they will be delighted with their boys repping them in style. With the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers continuing in October and the tournament itself kicking off in June next year, there is no better way to prepare for the showdown than deciding Premier League matches.

Jean Michael Seri of Fulham runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Watford FC at Craven Cottage on September 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 21, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

Ghezzal and Seri, two match winners to watch out for this Premier League weekend

“It’s all about building up that confidence and getting some look good statistics next to their names now and forever. This weekend is one such opportunity, will the sons of the African soil in Ghezzal and Seri seize the opportunity...”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Confidence is just as important or even more important than talent in football. It’s almost the singular attribute that is directly correlated to superior performance. For instance, Arsenal’s Iwobi is looking a different player under Unai Emery even though we had always known the Nigerian is a top talent. Confidence is paying off huge dividends. Leicester City’s replacement to Algerian Riyad Mahrez who left for Premier League champions Man City, Rachid Ghezzal is one player who can get a few more good performances under his belt and finally settle in his new EPL surroundings after arriving from Monaco in the summer. Fulham’s Jean Michel Seri is undoubtedly the conductor of their orchestra and has pulled off some interesting performances this campaign. As both Leicester City and Fulham face-off opposition outside the big six this weekend, it’s all to play for and the coronation of these playmakers with some look good stats could be in sight.

Rachid Ghezzal

Rachid Ghezzal of Leicester City (left) celebrates with team mate Vicente Iborra of Leicester City (right) after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Leicester City and Fleetwood Town at The King Power Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Leicester, England.

(Aug. 27, 2018 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Yes, the 26-year-old Algerian international is just as left-footed as Mahrez and inherited his place in the 2014/15 Premier League champions’ setup but he is his own player. Comparisons between him and Mahrez will get even louder and Ghezzal will surely be focused on one thing at this point in his career, being at his best. It did not quite work out for him with his previous employers as he managed eleven goals in 87 Lyon appearances, only two for Monaco in 26 appearances before Leicester captured him for £10 million in the summer. He is however an undisputable talent, comfortable on the ball, with a sharp left foot always enabling him to cut inside when playing on the right wing to get some goals or set up teammates. He is also more physical than Mahrez, one attribute that makes it inevitable for him to cope with the intensity of the premier league. He got his dream start to life in England with a goal against EPL leaders Liverpool in a 2-1 loss at the King Power but was just as fault as all the other Leicester players in 4-2 loss to Bournemouth last weekend. With Leicester City desperate to comeback to winning ways when they welcome 18th placed Huddersfield Town, Ghezzal will surely be instrumental if they are to get something out of the match. It’s a match they fancy themselves winning and one that Ghezzal perhaps believe will be a real confidence boost as he builds upon his manager, Claude Puel’s confidence in him as a player offering something different to the Foxes set up.

Jean Michael Seri

The Ivorian is no stranger to starring roles. He was OGC Nice’s starman from 2015 throughout to 2018 after he was signed from Portuguese side Pacos De Ferreira. He was so good in the French Ligue 1 that a proposed €40 million move to Barcelona failed by a whisker. He was widely viewed as a player to help fill the void left by Barca legend Andres Iniesta. Premier League new boys, Fulham won his signature ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham simply because the 27-year-old felt like the Craven Cottagers were more serious in their approach to land the midfielder. He is up and running early after winning the Premier League Goal of the Month for August, for a stunner he bagged in a Fulham’s 4-2 victory over Burnely and a top drawer assist for Andre Schurrle’s goal at Brighton. He was missing in the Whites last outing at Manchester City, in a performance that was headlined his error that led to City’s first goal within ninety seconds of kick-off. He has been featured as one of the hardworking midfielders currently in the English top flight and the Watford match on Saturday at home that kicks off the Premier League weekend is one he will be looking to run and quickly get back to his best. Watford have however proven to be a tricky opposition, winning four of their first five premier league matches. It will undoubtedly be an interesting battle in the midfield against the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure.

It’s all about building up that confidence and getting some look good statistics next to their names now and forever. This weekend is one such opportunity, will the sons of the African soil in Ghezzal and Seri seize the opportunity and be the match-winners they have always been yet again?

FT Top 5 Young Players With African Roots: Ryan Sessegnon [Fulham]

Ryan was born on 18 May 2000 in Roehampton London together with his twin brother Steven. He is a distant cousin of the Benin international footballer, Stephane Sessegnon and plays as left back/ left winger for EFL Championship side, Fulham which he joined starting from the U-9 side.  In the 2016/17 season, Ryan became the first professional player born in the 2000s to score a goal in the English top leagues when he found the back of the net against Cardiff City. He made a total of 30 appearances for Fulham in that season and delivered performances that earned him a spot in the PFA Championship Team Of The Year, the youngest player ever to be included in such a setup. He became a person of interest among the media houses with Sports Illustrated naming him the 19th best U-20 footballers in the world in May 2017 and a subject of speculation in the summer transfer window with Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich reportedly interest in the teenager who was then too young to sign a professional contract according to PFA rules. After his 17th birthday, Ryan opted to stay at Fulham with an assurance of game time being his main reason for the choice.

"Last season I got a lot of opportunities so I want to continue that. When you are young you just want to play as many games as you can." - Ryan Sessegnon

The just-ended season was no exception to Sessegnon’s ingenuity, scoring 16 goals and 7 assists for Fulham in 51 matches. He helped them to a third-place finish and delivered a standout performance in their playoff semi-final against Derby. He became the first Championship player to be nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year eventually won by Manchester City’s Leroy Sane. He won an unprecedented five awards, Championship Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season, Apprentice of the Year, and named in the Championship Team of the Season and EFL Club Developed XI. Ryan has also featured for England in the 2017  U-19 Euro Finals where he scored three goals to finish joint top scorer and included in the team of the tournament as England won the championship for the first time.

FA considering 800M bid on Wembley Stadium

The FA have confirmed that Shahid Khan has offered an 800m bid to buy Wembley Stadium. The FA are considering this enormous bid from the billionaire who owns Fulham and Jacksonville Jaguars. He plans to strengthen the Jaguar’s presence in the capital of England. London has started attracting interest from other NFL teams as Tottenham Hotspur signed a 10-year deal with the NFL that will see the White Hart Lane host some of the games at their 61 000-seater when it is completed. It is also believed that not many changes will be seen from the stadium as the FA are expected to keep their headquarters at the stadium free of rent while Fulham will remain at Craven Cottage. This money can be reinvested by the Football Association and finance the building of 1,500 new full-size pitches across England.

One Wembley source was quoted as having said, “If we are ever to have the chance to change the face of football in this country, this offer could make that happen.”

The terms of the deal are not quite clear at the moment but the England national team will be expected to maintain the stadium as their home. An issue could be the potential clashes between the international games and the NFL games which commence in September. The UK is really eager to grow the NFL and are excited by the potential purchase of the stadium.