Sparky’s Column

The Etisalat Pro League Fantasy Football Game

The Etisalat Pro League's Fantasy Football has got off to a great start with tons of fans registering as virtual football managers. The registration process is very straight forward and even the hassle of picking a team can be taken from you with the auto pick button. I am going to try an experiment at Radio 2, I will be deliberating over a team carefully choosing the best value for money players and keeping a close eye on it each week making sure I transfer players at the right time and bring in the right players to bolster the squad. My coworker and newsreader Christine who has little knowledge of football will choose a team with the auto pick button. We will check weekly on air to see who is leading the charge to glory, the man with the knowledge or the complete beginner. It should be fun and hopefully not too embarrassing.

One of the most popular players in the Fantasy Football is Asamoah  Gyan, the Ghanaian currently on AFCON duty caught up with me to discuss life in the Pro League this season. 

Sparky: Things going great at Al Ain you’re top of the league and personally you’re top scorer. Grafite your nearest rival in the scoring charts is currently banned. Does this make you confident that despite the break for the AFCON you can finish top scorer?  

Gyan: (Laughs) Yeah you know, I was top scorer last season and I have 21 so far this year. Grafite is a very good player and the competition is good. It’s normal to compare players and the player rivalries are a tradition in the game, fans compare players and some choose Grafite to win. I let the outsiders choose but I just want to help my team win and even if I don’t score that’s the most important thing. 

Sparky: Al Ain are clear at the top of the table after the first half of the season. Is it going to become tougher in the second half of the campaign due to the amount of games you have to play including Asian Champions league?

Gyan: Yes it will be difficult for us. I think in one month we have seven games but we will win a couple games and work from there. In the league everybody is going to be eyeing Al Ain because we are top of the table. All we can do is win a couple of games at the start of the second half of season. 

Sparky: Coach Cosmin has won the domestic league, is he now desperate to win the continental title? 

Gyan: This is like a challenge to him and he will have to think a lot. This is the time he needs to show what he can do. Cosmin is a great man and tactically he is one of the best. He knows what he is doing and I don’t need to do his job for him. He is young but he has a lot of experience and I think he can be one of the best. 

Asamoah Gyan was speaking to me prior to heading off to South Africa for the African Cup of Nations.