Ghanaian football star Hamza Mohammed has described Australia as a country of football where the sport is treated as big business.

"Australians love football because the league system is highly competitive and that's why lots of Australian players are in the English Premiership", he said.

Hamza, who now plays for Sydney FC in Australia, made this observation in an interview with the Statesports in Accra on Monday.

The former Black Starlets, Satellites, Meteors and Black Stars midfielder, described football as a the number one sport in the world.

"Most Ghanaian football fans believe that it"s only Brazil, England, Germany, Spain and Italy who play good football but this is a wrong notion because Australians also play fantastic game. It’s one of the best places for professional football," he said.

According to Hamza, a number of popular African stars were trying to play in the tough Australian league, adding "Our coach at Sydney FC, Branko Culina, wants to sign on Nigerian super star Jay Jay Okocha and I know he will be a good material who will inspire us".

Mohammed, who played for Real Tamale United, Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak in Ghana, said: "Professional football in Australia has been a hectic business. We have very skilful and talented players and I enjoy the challenge".

He said his club placed fourth in the Australian Hyundai A-League after playing 21 matches, winning eight, drawing eight and losing five.