Great Olympics midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu is enjoying working with former Ghana international Yaw Preko.
Preko was named Great Olympics’ permanent coach before the start of the new season, and he oversaw the capital club’s first victory over Bechem United.
During the preseason, Preko was in charge and approved the signing of former Black Stars player Agyemang-Badu.
So far, the two appear to be on the same wavelength, with Agyemang-Badu describing Preko as a great coach in an interview with 3Sports’ Kelvin Owusu Ansah on the GPL Xpress show.
Agyemang-Badu said: “I know him [Yaw Preko] very well. He’s one of the Ex-Black Stars footballers who has done so well for himself and for the nation. He has had an eye on the game.”
“The kind of training we have been passing through has been very fantastic for us. [There is] a lot of ball work and our condition is gaining up and he’s a master tactician who we are working with and we’re happy with him. He’s a great coach, a great personality and a great guy,” the former Udinese star added.
Agyemang-Badu, 31, announced his retirement from international football in 2021 to focus on club football.
Agyemang-Badu joined Great Olympics on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract, and has so far impressed the club and fans.
He made his official debut last week and is expected to play in the Mantse derby on Sunday. Great Olympics take on city rivals Hearts of Oak, hoping to extend their recent dominance over the former African champions.
Great Olympics have won four of the last five meetings against Hearts of Oak.
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Which team is the true Accra club? @theyawofosu tries to explain in this preview ahead of @HeartsOfOakGH vs @AccraGtOlympics
this Sunday! #3Sports pic.twitter.com/4XDdgYpNuj— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) September 15, 2022
Great Olympics had a successful pre-season, winning the GHALCA G6, and they kicked off their season with a win thanks to Samuel Ashie-Quaye’s late goal against Bechem United, the same opponents they defeated in the GHALCA 6 final.
Agyemang-Badu started and performed admirably before being replaced in the 80th minute.
“In my first game, I think it was good. We played Bechem in a friendly game, we met them at the G6 two times. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. They have a very solid team with young and talented guys there. They did a lot of interposition changes so the game was very tough but we were able to sail through and win the game 1-0,” he said.
“We need to recover and see what is ahead of us against Hearts of Oak on Sunday. I think I’m doing well. My fitness level is going up. The pitch is a bit worrisome but this is what we have so I need to just adapt to it and just move on and enjoy my football.”
After 13 years away, Agyemang-Badu returned to Ghana, playing for Recreativo, Udinese, Bursaspor, Verona, and Quingdao, but it was the Italian club where he stayed the longest. He spent nearly a decade with Udinese, appearing in nearly 200 games, scoring 10 goals and assisting 11.
Agyemang-Badu, who was a key member of Ghana’s U20 FIFA World Cup-winning squad in 2009, retired from the Black Stars after 78 appearances and 11 goals. He missed the 2010 World Cup because of injury but played four years later in Brazil.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana