Among the plethora of centre-backs touted as an emergency summer replacement at Hearts, Techiman Eleven Wonders’ Kelvin Osei Assibey may not be a name which leapt off the page.
However, the 22- year-old has undergone a successful medical and could sign for the Phobians in the coming days.
But there is so much more to learn about the young player, and a wee factoid about the young prospect seems to be in order if we are to understand why the Phobians are so keen to get their man.
So, here's a rundown of what to know about the defender ahead of a potential move to Hearts.
Spent time with Liberty Professionals
Assibey was born and raised in Techiman. He might have earned plaudits for his impressive performances with Techiman Eleven Wonders but his journey to the top began with amateur clubs like Ebony FC in Kumasi, De God Win FC, Liberty Professionals FC (youth side) and Bono East United in Techiman before finally joining Techiman Eleven Wonders.
Sergio Ramos comparisons…because, obviously
You guessed it.
Any up-and-coming talent ends up with a like-for-like comparison, whether it’s the player’s coaches or just media hype making the call, it’s always bound to happen.
So, with him being versatile and able to comfortably play as a central defender, right-back, left-back and as a defensive midfielder, the natural course of action is to draw up comparisons with one of the best defenders in the world, Sergio Ramos.
How valid those links are is somewhat debatable, but if you see ‘next Sergio Ramos’ floating around anywhere in Ghana, then presume with some certainty it’s Kelvin Osei Assibey.
He is not afraid of a tackle
While it’s clear the young defender is a talented tackler and composed centre-back, there’s no doubt that the inner Ramos inside of him comes out a little too often. Assibey loves a tackle, and his youthful exuberance takes him too far at times. He will no doubt learn to have a cooler head…unless he follows in Ramos’ footsteps.
He is good with the ball at his feet
Assibey will never claim to be the best passer in the world, and he’s not given a role which requires him to be, but that’s not to say he hates having the ball at his feet. One of his best attributes is his love for a forward pass. Whenever he gets the ball, he is always looking to get his side moving forward, and more often than not, he’s good enough to pull the pass off.
Importantly, he’s confident in possession. While he might not always complete a pass, he’s unlikely to be fazed or make a mistake. Composure is key.
His nickname is ‘The Master 5’
When you watch Assibey play, you might hear his teammates and fans call him ‘The Master 5’ – a nickname which has nothing to do with a barony or a political big wig
It’s actually a name which was given to him by his fans because of the way he commands his designated areas with supreme aplomb.
