WHO IS THE BEST LOCAL PLAYER FROM 2000 TILL NOW? TICO TICO, GENERAL KUFFOUR OR ISHMAEL ADDO

ISHMAEL ADDO (BABY FACE ASSASIN)

Born in Accra on the 30th.July,1982, (36years).
Addo started his footballing career with Accra Hearts of Oak when he was just 16years and dazzled the local scene with his goal scoring prowess in this millennium that no local attacker has ever come close in recent times. Ishmael’s exploits with Hearts from 2000 to 2002 league seasons was never envisaged to an end of the road for goal scoring potency in the Ghanaian premier league.
Ismael Addo potency in front of goal is irreplaceable. He renders backlines jittery and sends shivers whenever he is on rampage. It is no surprise that his goal scoring credentials reminiscent that of Dan Owusu who managed three consecutive top scorer in the 1974, 75 and 76 season for Tano Boafokwah and Asante Kotoko”s Opoku Afriyie who scored 26 astonishing goals in the 1979 premiership season.
It was not a fluke that, Accra Hearts of Oak were in the peak of their life in the early 2000s. They were on the lips of everybody back then. With Ishmael Addo spearheading Hearts attack, teams feared to rub shoulders with them even their closest rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko. Coming from New Zealand U_17 world cup in 1999 where his 7 goals helped Ghana clinched the bronze medal and making him the top scorer of the tournamet, the young Addo quickly warmed his way through the blistering Hearts team which was composed of good materials and quickly immortalized himself as the lead man.

If Hearts of Oak won the 2000 CAF champions, the ingenuity of Ishmael Addo was great factor to that historic feat. With no disrespect to the 64 battalions like Amankwah Mireku, Stephen Tetteh, Emmauel Osei Kuffour, Edmund Copson, Jacob Nartey, Sammy Adjei, Dan Quaye, Adjah Tetteh just to mention a few. Addo is among the few players in the Africa champions’ league to have scored hat-trick in away games. It was Ishmael Addo”s 90th strike that cemented Hearts’ champions’ league feat after Esperance were pushing for 2-2 equalizer.
Addo's goal on the 9th of May 2001 caused the worse football disaster in Africa when Hearts played Kotoko in a league match in Accra Sports Stadium.
Though Ishmael didn’t spend much time in the local league that notwithstanding, Ishmael Addo has indeed left a mark on the minds of many football faithful.The best striker ever in the local league made 71 lesgue appearances and scored 62 goals making him the all time goals scorer,top scorer in a single league season 22,He also clinched 5 premier league titles,1 CAF champions league, 1 CAF super cup, 2 FA cups and he was also top scorer on 3 occassions (1999,2000 and 2001).
Addo travelled all around the world to continue his footballing skills and killer goal scoring feet and among these teams are Bastia,Maccabi Netanya, Maccabi Tel Aviv,Ergotelis among others.

On international front, the dazzling attacker was the top scorer with 7 goals of 1999 FIFA U 17 championship in Newzealand, Bronze medalist in the same tournament in Newzealand.
Silver medal, with Ghana in FIFA U 20 championship in Argentina, a tournament that was won by the host.
Though Addo had a brief stints with the senior national team but he managed to score in his debut game at age 18 against Seirra Leone, and was once named in FIFA's top 100 prospects in 2000.

EMMANUEL OSEI KUFFOUR (GENERAL)

Born on the 6th of April 1976, (43 years) in Accra,
Emmanuel Osei Kuffour has officially retired from active football. Osei Kuffour (The General) started playing when he was just 16years with the then Madina Real Republicans a division three club at the time. After only one season with the club Ghana premier league side Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs got the signature of the legendary midfielder  .The diminutive midfielder then signed for Accra Hearts of Oak in 1998 from Ebusua Dwarfs. Play-mate of Ishmael Addo for Hearts before 2000s, there is no midfielder in the past 25 years in the local game who had eye for goal than Osei Kuffour (The General).He was part of the Hearts of Oak team that took the local league by storm and in fact a stalwart in midfield. Driving long ranges and taking defenders by surprise was never a problem for “General”. Indeed, it was his exploits and sheer brilliant that coordinated Hearts 2000 CAF champions trophy, and as a midfielder Kuffour managed to score as many as 10 goals in the tournament go clinched the top scorer award and indeed he scored the two goals when Esperance had taken before Ishmael wrapped it up.
Kuffour is among the few players to have featured for both Hearts and Kotoko. In all this trips, Kuffour never lost his prowess as a good player, at Kotoko, he was part of the Kotoko team that won the 2007_08 league. Kuffour also played for Ashgold, Power Fc and returned to his traditional club Ebusua Dwarfs where he hanged his boots.In all, Kuffour won 6 Ghana premier league titles, 2 FA cups, 1 Guinness gala championship, 1 Ghana super league, 1 CAF champions league, 1 CAF super cup. Kuffour was also part of Hearts team that defeated Kotoko in the confederation finals in 2004. And was also voted Ghana player of the year in the year 2001.

Osei paid his quota to the course of the national teams as he made 31 national appearances. He was part of the AFCON squad Ghana co-hosted with Nigeria in 2000 and captained the 2002 squad that made it to Mali and also featured in the 1996 Super Olympic tournament.


STEPHEN ODURO (TICO TICO)

Like any other player who plays to better his economic fortunes alongside seeking world recognition, Stephen Oduro "Tico Tico" as he was affectionately called decided to seek little of those aforementioned issues but to commit his future for Kumasi Asante Kotoko.The midfield maestro was born in Tamale on the April 30th. 1983, (35years), it is with this single reason that Stephen Oduro is the most decorated Asante Kotoko player in recent years. The Temale born joined Kotoko in the season of 1999_2000 from Real Tamale United, incredibly, the thought of seeking outside experience has never crossed the mind of the nimble midfielder even when keeps knocking on his doors and for over 15 years, he has graced the red and white stripes though his days was intertwined by a stints with city rivals King Faisal. This means, Oduro is the long serving Kotoko player and one of the few local players to have chalked this feat.
Cast in the image of Barcelona superstar Xavi Hernandez, very intelligent on the ball and has the insight of always supplying brilliant passes. There is no better player in the past 15 years who can link up with strikers like Oduro does for Kotoko.
Though Stephen had to wait for almost 4 seasons before he could lay his hands on league title in 2003, it didn’t take anything away from the brilliance of the member of the 1999 New Zealand U_17. Oduro”s agility in midfield is always a worry to opposite midfield spawning; instigating attacks are many values you cannot take away from the lad. In Europe, Christian Ronaldo, Steven Gerard, Lionel Messi, David Beckham are noted for brilliant free kicks but in our part of the world, Stephen Oduro holds that tramp card. He is remembered for his sumptuous kick he scored against rivals Hearts of Oak in 2002 at the Kumasi Sports Stadium and several of these in the past years.
Unlike Ishmael Addo, who was ruthless in front goal, Oduro was not like the former but raises to the occasion whenever the going becomes tough for the Porcupine warriors. The only thing which missing from Oduros” list of honors comparable to that of Ishmael is the Champions league and unfortunately Kotoko losing out on confederation cup to Hearts and the Africa Cup winners cup of which Oduro was an integral member.
Stephen continues stay at Kumasi Asante Kotoko has come with great successes as he managed to oust Ishmael in the member of league trophies won. Oduro was member of the Kotoko which won the league in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2014. He is also credited with Ghana Super cup in 2013 and Kotoko 2001 and 2014 FA cup feats. Oduro has 4 SWAG cups under his berth.
He is indeed the local blend of Xavi and Pirlo.
So who among these decorated players is your best player from 2000 till now?