Former goalkeeper of the Black Stars, Sammy Adjei, says he has never stated anywhere that he would not play for the Black Stars again. He said some people are peddling this falsehood in an attempt to “destroy him”, reiterating he does not recall making any statement to that effect. Speaking in an interview with Asempa FM’s “Fire for Fire”, Sammy Adjei said Ghana has done a lot for him and he cannot stop playing for Ghana. “I have never said in anywhere that I would not play for Ghana. Ghana has done a lot for me. People call me names like Bartels and Bamako when I walk, so it would be stupid to say I would not play for Ghana Black Stars.” He said he is still interested in playing for the team, but his detractors are not allowing this ambition. Sammy Adjei explained that during the 2008 African Cup, his then team in Israel told him they wanted to win the league since they had not won the cup before and were on top of the league table at that moment, and so needed Sammy Adjei to be at post for the team to win the league. He added that his contract was about to expire and so needed to sign another four-year deal with the club, moreover, due to his commitment to play for Ghana, he called officials of the Ghana Football Association for them to talk to his team to release him for the Black Stars and this brought the speculations that he said he would not play for the Black Stars again. Sammy, who nearly cried in the studio, said the team was down on the league table when he joined, but was able to bring the team up and so his management would not allow him leave at that crucial moment. Sammy added that people are destroying his image by tagging him with the speculations that he said he would not play for the team again. Asked based on the speculations that because Richard Kingston became a regular player for the Black Stars that was why he bowed out of play, Sammy repeated that that was not true. He said his team was asking him not to come and play for Ghana since he was a second goalkeeper for Ghana, but first for the team, but he always insisted to come and play for the Black Stars. But is Sammy Adjei ready for South Africa 2010? “I pray to God to give me that chance,” he hoped. Story by Kwaku Antwi-Otoo (Asempa FM)