Acheampong upbeat about Chinese League

Black Stars attacker, Frank Acheampong, says the constant improvement in the standard of the Chinese Super League (CSL) influenced his decision to join Chinese Club Tianjin Teda on a permanent deal.

The 22-year-old spent a six-month loan deal at the Chinese club where he helped them to avoid relegation before signing a permanent contract this month.

According to the former Anderlecht player, he was already aware of the quality of the CSL before he headed out on the six-month loan spell earlier this year.

He said the exodus of football stars from the major European leagues to China had massively improved the quality of football played in the CSL within a short period.

"When I played in Thailand (with Buriam United), I recall we played a game with Guangzhou Evergrande and even then about three years ago they were very good," the former national U-20 star told the Daily Graphic in an interview.

He also quashed fears that his switch to China would negatively affect his performance, stating that he is now getting a lot of playing time which will only improve him as a player.

He said: "Football is about playing time and how high your spirit is. I have been received well at Tianjin and I am getting a lot of playing time most importantly."

He also apologised to all Ghanaians for the failure of the senior national team to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, pledging that the Black Stars would go all out to secure qualification to the 2019 AFCON in Cameroun.