Mensah: I’ll be a Rock for Black Cats

Sep 16 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

JOHN Mensah already has the right nickname for the job and the Ghana international intends to become a pillar of strength in Sunderland’s defence following his move to the Stadium of Light.

Mensah gave up Champions League football at Lyon to sign for Steve Bruce’s Black Cats.

And the versatile defender is relishing the opportunity to play in English football and continue the mission which God has given him.

And a player called the Rock of Gibraltar in his homeland is confident that he has come to a team which is on the rise after he was convinced by Bruce of the club’s vast potential.

“The Rock used to be called the pillar of Hercules,” explained Mensah, whose move to England from France was delayed until last week as he waited for clearance to enter the country.

“It’s between Spain and Morocco and my godfather gave me this name, the Rock of Gibraltar.

“He sees how I played my football and he has followed my movement, every movement, every match I played, he gave me this name. He is Reverend Joseph Koshi from my methodist church in Ghana. I’m big on Christianity.

“He always gave me this name, when he gave me it he promised me that we would make it to the World Cup in 2006, he promised me that as soon as I played for my country. Thank God we did qualify.

“He also promised me that we would qualify for the 2010 World Cup and we did. I thank God for that.

“I spoke to him when I was about to leave for England and he told me there’d be no problems.

“He said: ‘Wherever you go, God will always be with you’. He

has promised me something about Sunderland, but that’s a secret. He will always be praying for the team while I’m playing.”