Ghanaian attacker Kwaku Osei Bonsu play his first league game for Venezuelan side FC Caracas against Estudiantes Merida this Sunday at home at the Estadio Olimpico de la UCV.
Osei Bonsu joined Caracas this winter for a period of three years after a successful spell at FK Senica in Slovakia. The 19 year old is eager to hit the ground running as the Venezuelan Primera Division begins this weekend.
"I'm really looking forward to my first match of the season. Its very important for us to start with a win and gradually build momentum. I strongly believe in our strength as a team, and we've had a good preparations in the last few weeks to have a go at the championship."
FC Caracas have won twelve First Division titles making them the most successful in Venezuelan football history. This will be Osei Bonsu's first competitive game for the club after impressing his teammates and coaches in the preseason.
"Training is more intense here. It's almost a three hour session, more than I have had previously. I'm happy to have scored in my first friendly match. But for me it's more than that, the overall team performance is what's most important."
“I have been deployed in three different positions. In my days at Bechem United and FK Senica, I use to operate from either the right flank or left side of attack."
"Here at Caracas, I have been tried behind the main striker a few times because of the coach believes i can create more goal scoring opportunities playing between the lines.The coach is very much aware of my capabilities and I know what he expects from me on the field"
Bonsu revealed he is enjoying the transition from European football to the South American game.
“The transition has been smoother than I expected. And that's partly because of how i have been integrated into the team not just by the technical handlers, my teammates have also embraced me despite the language barrier. " "Two of my mates speak English so they interprets the Spanish language and the instructions of the coach to me clearly."
If there's one Championship that Bonsu is so eager to stamp his mark on, it's the Copa Libertadores. FC Caracas are in group H together with famous Argentina club Boca Juniors and Chilean side Libertad.
Their opening match will be at home to Boca Juniors on the 3 March 2020.
"The Copa Libertadores is the biggest competition on the continent. It's the South American Champions league, therefore a huge platform and opportunity for me. Something I relish."
"Boca Juniors are a historic club in the world. They've won the Libertadores six times which makes them the obvious favourites in the group. But, we will be competitive. You rarely get these kinds of games to make a mark. And I'm very optimistic".
In his unveiling video, Osei Bonsu spoke in his local dialect, giving a hint of his great skill and the quality he brings to the team. He recently posted a video of himself tutoring two of his teammates a variety of Ghanaian dancing moves to Hip-life musician Patapaa's song.
"It was a way of marketing my country to my teammates and the country. Not a lot of them know aboug Africa or Ghana. And I’m glad they had fun dancing with it."