It's perhaps the most difficult position on the pitch. Especially nowadays. The modern number one not only has to pull off amazing saves, but command the box, be dominant in the air, organise the defence, be quick off the line and (of course) be faultless with the ball at feet. If you want a steady pair of hands between the posts then the Ghanaian top flight is the place to find a goalkeeper.
The first half of Ghana's elite league has had a number of truly brilliant stoppers who grabbed the headlines with their stupendous performances.
In this piece, we introduce our readers to the top seven stoppers of the first round taking into account the number of games of played; goals conceded and clean sheets recorded.
With the above metric, some highly recognised goalkeepers will miss out on our list.
1. Lawrence Ansah (FC Samartex)
Games played: 9
Goals conceded: 2
Clean sheets: 7
FC Samartex has seriously risen to prominence over the past months, so much so he has started attracting the attention of neutral football fans alike. His presence in the Samartex goal and impact on their much-improved defensive record in the league are what's stood out, and his form has been incredible.
He is a no thrills, no spills kind of guy, who is not necessarily renowned for his excellent work with the ball at his feet, nor his ability to play out from the back. Nah, this man just saves shots. All shots. Every shot.
2. Joseph Addo (Aduana Stars)
Games Played: 12
Goals Conceded: 6
Clean Sheets: 7
Time to put some credit back behind the name Joseph Addo. Sure, his form has dipped considerably in the past couple of campaigns, but it was always going to be impossible to maintain the ridiculous standards he had set over the years prior to that slip. There's now signs he's getting back to his best, and plenty of time for him to recapture the form which made him a contender as the very best in the division.
3. Richmond Ayi (Accra Hearts of Oak)
Games played: 13
Goals conceded: 9
Clean sheets: 7
Since becoming Hearts’ number one shot-stopper, few doubts have been raised over his abilities, and his position in the side has rarely come under threat.
He is the dream goalkeeper for Slavko Matic and his Hearts side: nothing fancy - just stop the ball and do your job efficiently. And his aptitude at doing the basics so effectively is what makes Ayi so special.
4. Sylvester Sackey (Legon Cities)
Games played: 8
Goals conceded: 5
Clean sheets: 5
From the moment Sackey was made first-choice goalkeeper at Legon Cities after the injury of Vincent Honu prior to the start of the season, it was clear to everyone at the club that, he was a star in the making.
Although his talents weren't recognised to their maximum by those outside of the Ghanaian capital, regular visitors of Legon Cities’ training grounds knew the stuff Sackey is made of. Insanely efficient at the basics, partial to the odd moment of supernatural heroics and impeccable when distributing the ball, Legon Cities couldn't have wished for a better goalkeeper.
Losing his place for six match-days to on-loan Vision FC young goalkeeper Williams Essu due to a late injury he picked up in Cities' away win over Real Tamale United. Sackey got the nod the be in the sticks for Maxwell Konadu's side following Essu call-up to the Black Galaxies for the CHAN tournament in Algeria.
5. Gregory Obeng Sekyere (Berekum Chelsea)
Games played: 10
Goals conceded: 8
Clean sheets: 5
Sekyere was thrust into the limelight as a tender teenager, with the expectations of a town - a big one, granted - on his shoulders. It's not been all sunshine and lollipops for the now 18-year-old, but his meteoric rise to fame has seen him transform into one of the most reliable and commanding goalkeepers in Ghana.
Despite his age, he is surprisingly well-coordinated and agile. He is the kind that shouts instructions to his defenders regarding their positioning.
6. Joseph Baah (Bibiani Goldstars)
Games played: 9
Goals conceded: 8
Clean sheets: 5
Bibiani Goldstars have performed miracles in the league this campaign, despite their modest budget. Their resolute defending has been a feature of their success. When teams finally do break through their stoic resistance, it also helps to have a keeper as talented as Joseph Baah -between the sticks.
His distribution is key for a team who plays such fluid football, while he is consistent in making a string of difficult saves week in week out.
