As a newcomer to the Ghana national team, Red Bulls midfielder Lloyd Sam was required to get up in front of the team and do a rookie dance.
“They were even happy with my dancing,” Sam said following Red Bulls training on Friday, three days after making his Ghana debut in a 1-1 tie against Canada Oct. 13 at RFK Stadium in Washington. “Every new guy that comes to camp has to do a dance at dinner time. I knew it was coming. There was about five of us, which made it easier. A lot of them were worse than mine. There isn’t a name for that dance, it was just get up there and freestyle. Just have some fun.”
And thus began an international career that, through complications and delays, didn’t happen until the age of 31.
“Six years ago, there was two calls, it wasn’t possible to go at those times for different reasons and game commitments from my club,” Sam said. “It was nice to get a call-up now and it was a great experience.”
It was a rare appearance for Ghana in the United States, and when Sam heard about the game he had a feeling his time might come.
“I had heard there was a game in America and I heard the coach was over, so I was hoping the coach would be watching, and he had been watching, so it was good to see he was watching and he called me,” Sam said. “So it wasn’t a complete surprise, because when I heard the game was in America I thought that was an opportunity.
“By the time it came it came a little late because I think some guys had pulled out. Yeah, (the Red Bulls) were very supportive, so that was great because, obviously, we had a game the next day, which was a big game for us, too, so it was nice that the club was supportive about it.”
Sam played the final 22 minutes, not a great deal of time to make an impression, but he earned his first cap and he said coach Avram Grant seemed pleased with his effort.
“He didn’t tell me what was going to happen but I knew they were trying to get a few of the new guys some minutes, but I didn’t know how many,” Sam said. “It was amazing. It was amazing to actually play for Ghana. My mom and dad are in Ghana right now. It was very special for the family, too.
“They said they were really happy with what I did when I came on, and that’s about it, really. They can’t guarantee me they’re going to call me again, but they said they were really happy and it’s definitely given them something to think about.”
Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said that while the game came at a difficult time in the Red Bulls season, he was supportive of Sam getting international minutes.
“I didn’t see (the game) but I got little reports from people,” said Marsch, who was in Canada preparing for the Red Bulls game against Toronto FC the following night. “… But I will say this. Lloyd’s got a confidence right now. I think he knows that going to Ghana and playing well, it’s kind of reinforced certain things and that’s given him belief in himself. It’s a little crazy when you go to that situation there, (but it reinforces) that being (with the Red Bulls) is a really good place to be. In all ways, I’m loving what I’m seeing from Lloyd right now.”
Red Bulls teammate Karl Ouimette only played the first half for Canada, so he and Sam didn’t get to play against each other like they do in training every day. The strange thing for Sam was that his Ghana teammates included Kwadwo Poku of rival New York City FC, Harrison Afful of the Columbus Crew, who Sam played against two weeks ago, and David Accam of the Chicago Fire, who has given the Red Bulls fits this season and who will play them again in the season finale on Sunday.
“I saw Karl every day, he was in the same hotel, so I think I’ve seen enough of Karl lately,” Sam said with a laugh. “I felt like, it was strange. I was there with NYC players and in the D.C. stadium, so it was a bit strange. It was nice to be on American soil, seeing that I’m playing in America now, so it felt normal not to be far from home.”
Then came the turnaround. Sam and Ouimette had to get to Canada for the Red Bulls game against Toronto FC.
“That was crazy,” Sam said. “Me and Karl had to wake up around 5:45 in the morning and then get an early flight, and then we got into Toronto and went straight to sleep and woke up for the game, so that was crazy. I wasn’t expected to start in the Ghana game, so I was always up for flying in (to Toronto) the next day.”
Ghana, ranked 25th in the latest FIFA rankings, will play a home-and-home qualifier against Comoros in the second round of African World Cup qualifying in November. Though it may come during the MLS playoffs, Sam said he is open to going if called.
“Of course I’d consider it,” he said. “We didn’t talk about anything like that. All they said afterward was they were happy with how I’d done. … It’s down to the coach now. I’ve got to concentrate on my club. We’ve got huge games coming so that’s where the focus is right now.”
