Richard ‘Olele’ Kingson is celebrating the promotion of his club to the Turkey Super League for the first time in 40 years.
Olele joined the hitherto second tier side back in the January transfer window and ignited their push for promotion by guaranteeing a safe pair of hands in post for Balikesirspor guiding them to one victory after another in the 13 games he played.
22-year old Kwame Amponsah Karikari, who also plays with Olele in the same team, joined Balikesirspor on loan from AIK of Sweden at the beginning of the season and certainly repaid their confidence in full with 11 goals in the 22 matches he featured in before he was struck down by injury in February.
“We do not want to miss such an opportunity. This match is the most important match for our fans. I hope we come out as Super League side at the end of 90 minutes so we can celebrate together,” Karikari had told the club’s official website on Friday.
And the young goal poacher was at his best when he came on as a substitute after 72 minutes in their 2-1 win over Istanbul BB who had already qualified for the top flight as 1.Lig champions.
It meant Balikesirspor saw off the challenge of former top flight hotshots, Orduspor for the second automatic qualification slot on 73 points, 2 more than Orduspor who now head into the playoffs with Akaraspor, Samsunspor and Mersin Idmanyurdu for the last Super lig slot for 2014/15.
“He is doing very well as he amongst the top goalscorers in the league. Not only his scoring ability but his total contribution to the team is very impressive. He’s improving daily and I can say that he is definitely a Black Stars material,” Olele had previously said of Karikari.
Source: AllSports Ghana