West Ham United striker Michail Antonio has arrived in Ghana to visit his football academy, Samba Stars in Kumasi.
Antonio was welcomed by a host of Ghanaian West Ham fans at the Kotoka International Airport arrival hall the moment he touched down in Accra.
In a video circulating online, the 34-year-old was adorned with two sashes with the inscriptions “Welcome, Antonio,” and “Beyond The Return” – an extension of the governments’ successful “The Year of Return” initiative in 2019.
He was cheered on by Ghanaian Hammers waving and holding several West Ham paraphernalia at the arrival hall.
He approached them nicely and took pictures with some of the fans before he left the airport yesterday.
Michail Antonio 🇯🇲 touches down in Ghana 🇬🇭. He will pay a visit to his football academy, Samba Stars, in Kumasi.#JoySports pic.twitter.com/PmlXFMtg5p
— #JoySports (@JoySportsGH) November 10, 2024
Speaking to the media, the Jamaican forward said he is excited to nurture talents in Ghana to also excel in abroad just like his West Ham teammate, Mohammed Kudus.
“We know about the talent here. Mo [Kudus] is already at the club, and we want to give boys here the chance to break through to the Premier League.
“There’s so much talent in Ghana, and I want to give back to the country by helping players reach the UK and beyond. Seeing players like Mo [Kudus] succeed is inspiring, and I hope to give more players that same opportunity,” he said.
Since the international break ends on Friday of next week, he will only be in the nation for a brief time.
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