Despite choosing to play international football for Belgium, Manchester City star, Jeremy Doku has acknowledged his Ghanaian descent, saying he speaks the Twi Language, which is widely spoken in the country.
One’s descent is always a source of pride.
Even though some people often choose to represent other nations they qualify to represent, in the sporting world, due in part to the opportunities for development in those nations, there is often no disconnect from their roots.
Several players of Ghanaian descent have toed that line of representing other countries internationally, and gone on to achieve great things, but they have always acknowledged where they came from.
Jeremy Doku is just one of several players young players of Ghanaian descent choosing to represent other countries.
Jeremi Frimpong and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (Netherlands) of Bayer Leverkusen, and Kobbie Mainoo (England) of Manchester United, are just but a few of the young exciting Ghanaian descent players representing other nations.
Eddie Nketiah and Callum Hudson-Odoi are exciting young players still waiting for their chances with the England National Team, as they are reluctant to represent Ghana despite several approaches.
Born to Ghanaian parents in Belgium, Jeremy Doku is eligible to play for both Ghana and Belgium.
Even after he started playing for the Belgium national team at U15 and U21 levels, an approach was made for his senior international career to be with the Ghana Black Stars, but he eventually chose the Belgium national team, making his senior debut in September 2020.
Jeremy Doku is an exciting young player that the Black Stars could have been so happy to have, but he has since made some 20 appearances for the Belgium national team.
Having set Ligue 1 on fire with Rennes in France, Jeremy Doku earned a move to Premier League high-flyers, Manchester City.
The winger is having a very good season, and courting a lot of attention.
Making an appearance in the ‘In The Premier League Chair’ show, a conversation about his Ghanaian roots came up, and the winger acknowledged that he is, indeed, Ghanaian and that he even speaks one of the widely spoken languages in the country–Twi.
“Of course, I’m Ghanaian also because my parents are Ghanaians. I also speak Twi, which is a language in Ghana. I’ve been there once and I’ll have to go back there again because it was a long time ago,” Jeremy Doku said in response to his Ghanaian roots.
With five goals and eight assists for Manchester City since joining the club, Jeremy Doku is settling in quite well, and when asked about how he feels about his time at the Etihad, the Belgium international said he didn’t expect to play much football when he joined, but believes he has had a good start.
“I think I’ve had a good start, because people didn’t expect me to play [much] when I came here. But I’m doing it and it’s good because it’s a top team and playing minutes in this team is a great thing,” Jeremy Doku said.
The winger is always electric on the wings when he plays, and he feels he can get even better, as there are areas in his game that he feels need improvements.
“It can always be better, be more efficient and help the team more. Those are parts of the game that I can still work on, so it’s not perfect. But I think I’m doing a good start and if I keep on going like this, of course, I can only be better.”