Veteran coach JE Sarpong has backed Ghanaian forward Kamaldeen Sulemana to follow in the footsteps of Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan after joining French Ligue 1 outfit Stade Rennes last week.
The 19-year-old signed a five-year contract to move from Danish club Nordsjaelland to the French side in a deal reportedly worth €21 million.
Rennes will pay Nordsjaelland an immediate amount of €16 million with a further €5 million to be added depending on the appearances the winger-cum-striker makes for the French side.
Speaking to Koforidua based Bryt FM, the former Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko coach indicated his move to Rennes will help his development and is backing him to follow in the footsteps of Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan and reach stardom.
Gyan, who is the all-time top scorer for Ghana with 51 goals featured for Rennes between 2008 and 2010.
Kamaldeen is the fourth Ghanaian player to join Rennes with John Boye, Gyan, and John Mensah all featuring for the club.
“Asamoah Gyan and other Ghanaian players started from there and I believe he is following their footsteps,” Sarpong told Bryt FM.
“Ghanaian players normally play for Rennes because they embrace Ghanaian talent, so I think it is good on the part of the player not to secure a move to a bigger team.
“I believe Rennes will help him [Kamaldeen] a lot and he will be able to learn a lot there going forward. I think it is a good choice for him and the club can help him develop into a world star.
“Kamaldeen is very young, so joining Rennes will help him develop well. If he had joined a club like Liverpool, he could have struggled and will be farmed out on loan just like that.”
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Sylvester Ntim
