Samuel Inkoom is on the move again, signing a two-and-a-half year contract to join Turkish club Antalyaspor earlier in the week.
It is the ninth move of its kind since the 26-year-old started playing professionally in his days back in Ghana in 2007.
Inkoom’s transfer moves has been mixed with varied reasons – his mega move from Asante Kotoko to Swiss club FC Basel in 2009 is so far considered as the most productive while the disastrous move to Ukraine where he played for Dnipro remains the most lucrative.
Increasingly becoming a journeyman, the right-back who played for Ghana at the 2010 World Cup us determined to get back to his very best certainly with an eye on his return to the Black Stars.
Sportscrusader.com analyses FIVE reasons why Samuel Inkoom’s latest move to Antalyaspor is a positive one with the potential of reigniting the energetic defender.
Samuel Inkoom completes move to Antalyaspor
Step up in competition:
Samuel Inkoom only signed for Boavista last summer and has got a good run of games with the Portuguese club. His name is however not all over as you would expect with general interest in the game in Portugal not as high as the prominent football countries in Europe. Antalyaspor have money and what money surely can get one is quality. There is no doubt that there is an enhanced quality in the Antalyaspor side and my extension in the league. Quality breeds intense competition coupled with the passion and interest that goes with the game. All these ingredient combined would see Inkoom push himself once more again to the limit to prove himself worthy of a regular place in the side. Doing that only means one thing, enhanced individual quality.
De Happi watches on as Inkoom signs his contract with Antalyaspor
Regular first team action:
The Ghana defender was a regular feature at his previous club Boavista and he is more likely to continue with this same feature at his new Turkish club. New Antalyaspor manager Jose Morais had joined the club a day before Inkoom’s arrival and guess what, the same agent who brokered the deal for Morais – Wilfried De Happi – was the same one who did the Inkoom deal. Perhaps unfair, but that is how partly the modern game is run nowadays, per relationships. Inkoom will certainly not be a benchwarmer even with keeping an average performance when both the coach and himself came from the same stable. It is however important that Inkoom proves himself beyound reasonable doubt to continue featuring regularly otherwise he would just be on borrowed time especially when the coach exits.
Inkoom at dinner with De Happi
More money:
Turkish teams are noted for paying a lot in net (after tax) salaries. It is the reason why big players will always go into the league and Antalyaspor is now one of the highest paying clubs in the country. Aside playing to excel and all that, one needs to get paid at the end of the day. Inkoom remains one of the wealthiest Ghanaian players and his account balance is set to grow exponentially with this move, at least more than what he received at Boavista.
Samuel Inkoom played for DC United in the MLS
Boost to CV:
I mentioned earlier that this is Inkoom’s 9th transfer move of similar kind since he turned pro back in 2007. Some of the moves he has made certainly served as basis for his next move – others, easily forgettable. The move to Ukraine for instance was purely for the money but it was because he was an attractive preposition having played in the UEFA Champions League with Basel. Antalyaspor is not a bad club at all to have in your resume and it may well serve as a platform for maybe another mega move both financially and for football reasons.
Inkoom wants Black Stars return
Enhances Black Stars return ambitions:
Samuel Inkoom has always had this undying love to always be with the Black Stars whenever the international games come around. The past few years have been tortious as he looked to see his then comfortable place in the national team taken over by more hungrier and better form youngsters. He wants to get back to being a regular member of the Black Stars and to do that now he needs a club with the profile – which he’s got now with Antalyaspor – but most of all also play very well to deserve or earn a call up. He is good with the first stage of getting a club good enough, now he has to show he really deserves a spot back in the Black Stars. Mind you, Avram Grant has been a big fan of the lad and even attempted signing him for Chelsea back in and around 2008 thereabout when he was flying rising talent.
FIVE reasons why Samuel Inkoom"s move to Antalyaspor is a HIT and not a MISS
