Justice Blay (born 5 May 1992) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ghana Premier League club Asante Kotoko and the Ghana national team.[1][2][3][4]
Club career
Justice started his professional career at Sekondi Hasaacas F.C. and made his debut in the Ghana Premier League in 2016 when he made a total of 14 appearances for the 1977 Ghana Premier League title winners and scored 1 goal.[5] Following a successful campaign at Hasaacas, Justice who is a defensive midfielder, caught the attention of Medeama who signed him in the following season into their squad.[6] On his debut season for Medeama SC he made a total of 15 league appearances and scored once.[7] In 2019 summer Asante Kotoko S.C. completed the signing of the midfielder on a season-long loan deal.[8] While at Kotoko featured in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.[9][10] He scored a 2 goals in 12 appearances for Kotoko in the cancelled 2019/20 Ghana Premier League season.[11] In 2020 summer he reverted from Kotoko to Medeama after the expiration of his loan contract.[12]
Transfer speculations
Following his return to Medeama several media reports claim Asante Kotoko have harboured plans to Justice permanently from Medeama.[13] Meanwhile, some media reports claim Medeama SC have set a price tag of US$200,000 for interested clubs who want to sign the midfielder.[14] Kotoko's bitterest rivals Accra Hearts of Oak S.C. reportedly entered into the race to sign the midfielder[15] but both Hearts of Oak and Medeama denied the story.[16][17]
International career
In September 2017 Ghana Black Stars B coach James Kwesi Appiah handed him a late call up ahead of a 2018 African Nations Championship qualifier.[18] In August 2019 Maxwell Konadu invited him to join the Ghana squad ahead of their preparation to face Burkina Faso in an African Nations Championship qualifier.[19] Justice featured prominently for Ghana during the 2019 WAFU Cup of Nations tournament in Senegal.[20]
Personal life
In 2018 the midfielder reportedly converted to Islam after studying the religion for a while. He was previously a Christian.[21]
Honours
Asante Kotoko
- Ghana Premier League – 2019
- Play of the Month Award – January 2020[22]
Ghana
- 2019 WAFU Cup of Nations – 2019, runners up medal.[23]
References
- ^ "Justice Blay leaves Asante Kotoko". Citi Sports Online. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Medeama set $200,000 price tag for Kotoko target Justice Blay". MyJoyOnline. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Medeama S.C confirms Justice Blay's return from Kotoko loan spell". GhanaWeb. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Kotoko midfield mystro Justice Blay arrives in Black Stars B camp – Ghana Sports Online". GhanaSportOnline. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Justice Blay, Latest News & Player Profile | Goal.com". goal. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "GHPL Live – Ghana Premier League Live". ghanaleaguelive. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "GHPL Live – Ghana Premier League Live". ghanaleaguelive. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Asante Kotoko Complete the Signing of Justice Blay from Medeama SC". 442 GH. 5 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Justice Blay Matches | Goal.com". goal. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Justice Blay Matches | Goal.com". goal. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "GHPL Live – Ghana Premier League Live". Ghana league live. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Justice Blay leaves Asante Kotoko". Citi Sports Online. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Medeama SC ready to open talks with Kotoko over the signing of Justice Blay- Communications Director Patrick Akoto". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Medeama set $200,000 price tag for Kotoko target Justice Blay". MyJoyOnline. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Hearts of Oak eyes move for Justice Blay". GhanaWeb. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Hearts of Oak refutes approaching Justice Blay". Footballghana. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Medeama deny Hearts of Oak approach for Justice Blay". MyJoyOnline. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Medeama star Justice Blay earns late Black Stars B call-up". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Richard Arthur, Justice Blay & three other Kotoko players earn Black Stars 'B' call-up - Kickgh.com". Kick Ghana. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Wafu Cup: Asante Kotoko dominate Ghana's final tournament squad | Goal.com". goal. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Medeama SC Midfield Icon Justice Blay Converts To Islam". 442 GH. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Justice Blay voted Kotoko player of the Month – Ghana Sports Online". GhanaSportOnline. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Ghana A' v Senegal A' Match Report, 13/10/2019, WAFU Cup of Nations | Goal.com". goal. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
External links
- Justice Blay at National-Football-Teams.com
- Justice Blay at Soccerway