Football
Exclusive: “The Goal Drought Will End, I'm Now Adapting” - says Ghanaian Teen Dominic Amponsah
Ghanaian teen Dominic Amponsah shares his journey of adapting to Georgia’s Erovnuli Liga with Dila Gori, his goal-scoring challenges, and the club's determination to secure the league title under Coach Costa Ricardo.
Dila Gori Photography team and SikaFotos Accra
Ghanaian international Dominic Amponsah shares his joy of playing in Georgia's First League and targets title glory with Dilla Gori under Coach Costa Ricardo. Discusses how he is settling into his new environment, as he hopes to boost his goal-scoring rate for the Guarders.
Dominic Amponsah, 18, has joined Dila Gori in Georgia's Erovnuli Liga, calling it "a huge opportunity." The Ghanaian prodigy's arrival at Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium has revitalized the Guarders, seeking redemption from nine seasons of title chase heartbreak.
Amponsah previously starred for Accra Lions in the Ghana Premier League, scoring 5 goals and providing 5 assists. However, the slow adjustment of the young striker in front of goal means the club would have to be a bit patient as he strives to rediscover his goal-scoring touch.
TOUGH EROVNULI LIGA
Amponsah, has dismissed notions that Georgia's Erovnuli Liga is inferior. Despite having experience in two professional leagues, he insists the Erovnuli Liga is more challenging than some may think.
"I've heard people call the Erovnuli Liga easy, but that's far from accurate," Amponsah noted. "From my experience over the past few months, this league is highly competitive, " he mentioned to SportsBoom.com.
"I ignore the negativity and focus on settling into this new environment. Despite being unknown here, I'm adapting well to the system."
"The competition within the squad and among clubs is fierce. Everyone strives to top the table and secure a European spot. The Erovnuli Liga boasts quality players, which drives my teammates and me to work tirelessly."
Also, the young striker expressed his excitement about playing in Georgia's Erovnuli Liga.
"I'm loving every minute of it," Amponsah exclaimed. "The Erovnuli Liga is pushing me to improve with each game
"I'm truly thankful to be here, doing what I love. The electric atmosphere and fantastic fan support make every match special. To be honest, there's always something to celebrate, and I'm excited to continue representing the club." he concluded.
Playing in the Erovnuli Liga is a huge opportunity for me. The competition is fierce, but I'm relishing the challenge. Coach Ricardo has been instrumental in helping me settle in
Dominic Amponsah
CHALLENGING START
Despite a slow start, Amponsah praised the club's patience, saying: "Dilla's faith in me has been tremendous. I'm working tirelessly to regain my goal-scoring touch, and I'm confident the goals will come."
"It's been a difficult for me," he explained said. "Goals have been hard to come by, but I'm learning to adapt to this new environment. I'm starting from scratch, and once I settle in, you'll see the best of me."
"The coaching staff's support has made all the difference. It's given me confidence to address my weaknesses in training, and I've seen significant improvement since joining the team. I owe a huge thanks to them."
With six matches under his belt and no goals to show, Amponsah feels the weight of expectation.
"I understand the club can't wait for me, especially with various competitions ongoing. So, I've taken it upon myself to double my efforts."
"My aim was to play actively, score goals, and boost our chances. While it's not gone as planned, I'll contribute my all with every opportunity."
"Being available for the team, helping, and playing are my priorities. Scoring goals will follow when the chances come."
DILA'S TITLE AMBITION
Dila Gori occupies second place in the league standings, trailing leaders Torpedo Kutaisi by five points with 52 points accumulated. Having come close but fallen short in recent years, Dominic Amponsah is convinced that this is the perfect opportunity for the team to reclaim the title, replicating their 2014-15 triumph.
"I believe we're well-positioned to win the league, as long as we maintain our momentum and stay positive. Our team's strength gives us a significant advantage." he asserted.
"Obviously everyone wants to win so bad and that's what we want as well, but sometimes you need to be very patient. In the end it's all about showing on the pitch and we're not going to be affected by that."
"We've come close on several occasions, but it was just unfortunate. We're on course to relish the moments of 2014-15. Coach Ricardo has been particular about how we play and the mentality we carry into matches. With the current standings, we can't afford to lose a match. It's a bit difficult, but we have the motivation to do it – I trust my teammates," according to the teenage sensation
Victor is a skilled broadcast journalist with an in-depth understanding of the sports ecosystem which spans over 8 years. He brings onboard a rich experience, having established himself as one of Ghana's finest lead commentators through major events like the African Games and the Ghana Women's Premier League.