Ghana midfielder Kwame Bonsu shared his experience after playing for Esperance in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar.
The former Asante Kotoko midfielder became only the third Ghanaian to play in the prestigious club competition.
The first was Sulley Muntari, who in 2010 played and won the trophy with Inter Milan. Harrison Afful followed in 2011. Afful, just like Bonsu, represented Esperance at the competition.
Bonsu started in two games as Esperance finished the competition in fifth place.
This is an incredible achievement for Bonsu, whose career almost collapsed in 2017 after he was incarcerated in Sweden for assaulting his partner.
“I have embraced it. To be in this kind of competition with the best clubs in different continents so personally, I have learnt a lot. I hope each and every player has also learnt something from it,” he told BBC.
Esperance lost to Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals before thumping Al Sadd 6-2 in the fifth-place play-off.
An African team has never won the Club World Cup with Raja Casablanca coming closest making the final in 2013. However, Bonsu believes an African team will be champions sooner or later.
“This is a very great competition, being part of this [shows] that nothing is impossible. You just have to work very hard, stay strong mentally no matter what. Esperance is a very big club, no doubt. So this is like champions of champions. It’s gonna take some time but definitely there can be an African club that gets to the top as well. We have to start somewhere. If we have a long-term target, we have to start from somewhere and work towards it.”
The Red and Golds return to compete in the Tunisian top-flight league and are also in the group stages of the CAF Champions League.
--
Latest Stories
-
JamRok Bar peddling nothing but falsehoods, defamatory statements against Mr Drew – Management
11 mins -
Ashanti Regional Minister must apologise or… ECG workers protest arrest of colleague
16 mins -
We are determined to achieve universal access to electricity by end of 2024 – Finance Minister
24 mins -
High Court adjourns Anti-Gay Bill case ‘against’ Akufo-Addo to April 29
32 mins -
Akesse Brempong to hold ‘Davidic’ concert on April 21
1 hour -
Here’s why Dr. Steve Manteaw supports Otumfuo’s call for ECG, GRIDCo divestiture
1 hour -
Ejisu by-election: Former NPP MP files nomination to contest as independent candidate
2 hours -
Aklerh out with ‘Dancehall Queen’ EP
2 hours -
Burna Boy makes Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People
2 hours -
National Peace Council cautions clergy against spiteful comments ahead of December 7 polls
2 hours -
My wife sent nudes to her Dubai lover when I was battling kidney disease – Erico
2 hours -
Kudus urges West Ham to eye Ghanaian youngster Emmanuel Danso
2 hours -
Don’t be cowed into silence, defend Ghana’s democracy – Sam Jonah tells journalists
2 hours -
QNET triumphs at PR Awards 2024 with 3 prestigious wins
3 hours -
Dubai Airport slowly re-opening as UAE rainfall persists
3 hours