Liberty Professionals are synonymous with producing great football talents and even in difficult times such as this season, the Scientific Soccer Lads have produced players that have received plaudits from many Ghanaian football pundits for brilliant displays.
The likes of William Dankyi, Michael Ampadu, Fredrick Ansah and Samuel Sarfo have all been the subject of discussion on many radio and TV sports shows for obvious footballing reasons with the latter receiving a call up in Ghana’s flagship National Team, the Black Stars for their AFCON 2019 Qualifier against Ethiopia.
There is no doubt that the Police Officer has become the most talked about player in the Ghana Premier League in recent weeks but NO ONE has really taken time to find out why Samuel Sarfo is having the season of his life especially in front of goal.
The Liberty deputy skipper has scored an incredible six (6) goals in sixteen (16) league games this campaign with none of his strikes coming from the spot- making him the highest scoring defender in the Ghanaian top-flight.
The Mubarik Effect
One reason Samuel Sarfo is having a super goal-scoring season with Liberty Professionals is his central defensive partner Yussif Mubarik, whose defensive capabilities have afforded the Police man some free room to operate and express his long term hidden attacking prowess.
Having joined the the Dansoman based club from Kumasi Corner Stones in 2015, Muba as he is affectionately called by his team mates has gone through the mill to become one of the finest yet hugely under-estimated center backs in Ghana this year.
He was promoted to the first team that same year to under-study and play as a back-up to the veteran Maxwell Mensah that season.
Mubarik’s time finally came at the beginning of the 2016/17 campaign and from the word “GO”, he has been in top form for Liberty Professionals.
The strong defender has played every single minute for the Scientific Soccer Lads in all competitions this season- the only player to have achieved that feat in the Ghanaian top flight this term, which is hugely impressive for a player whose position synonymous with bookings and suspensions.
He is a trusted defender who rarely put a foot wrong. He is strong in the air, a good passer of the ball and an excellent reader of the game.
Not once in over 1800 minutes has any opposing player completed a successful dribble against the young defender and that all but sum up the level of his game.
Why Mubarik Deserves More Recognition Than He is Getting at Present
To think that Mubarik, despite his form is yet to win a single Man of The Match (MoTM) award is beyond human comprehension.
May be it is because goal scoring has become a common criterion for awarding individual glory the world over and that sure will be to his disadvantage as he is yet to put a ball pass any goalkeeper.
But despite the obvious snub, his numbers and statistics in all aspects of defending is simply breath-taking and worth-noting.
To those who don’t know him, he is the player spotting the Number “4” with the name “Mubarik” atop the back of his shirt.
Make sure you look out for him anytime you watch Liberty Professionals play.
Player Stats
Games Played – 20 (1,800 minutes plus added minutes)
Goals – 0
Assist – 0
Yellow Cards – 0
Red Cards – 0
Pass Accuracy – 87%
Duels won – 100%