Commentary, Sport

Selection of Local Players to form the National Team, the Black Stars

By Ferguson Cofie, a Freelance Journalist

Following the Black Stars painful exit in the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, many Ghanaians are disappointed in the Black Stars. Accusing fingers are being pointed to all the team players, the coach and the technical bench, the GFA, the Sports Minister including the President Nana Akufo Addo. Some have questioned why the state used $25Million for the team to prepare for the tournament when the prize money and trophy is not worth more than $25Million.

In the midst of all the outpouring of anger, frustrations, and disappointment, many lovers of the game and typical Ghanaians have proffered some solutions to the problems of the national team. It has been argued that the business of calling players from 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th Divisions from leagues across Europe, Asia, and America must immediately cease. The Coach of the National Team should be tasked to train the local players here at home, and blend them with the few top-class foreign players who are on top of their games.

Experience has shown that setting a lower bar produces substandard performance and that was evident in the just-ended tournament. It was a total disaster to invite 2nd, 3rd, 4th division players into the Black Stars. The way out of this obviously disheartening situation is to first of all select local players who will be on training grounds twice a week with a coach. The FA can fashion out a league calendar that will accommodate such training programs. This could include players across all levels, not just the Black Stars. This will provide the Coach ample time to fine-tune tactics and strategies. They will also get to know their players more and address together every difficulty on the pitch used on player performance.

This when done well can develop into coded language between coach and players during the field of play. It is shocking how some coaches under the pretext of monitoring travel abroad only to go and relax, till there is a qualifier or a national assignment coming up. No serious jurisdiction will tolerate this attitude. Stakeholders must sit up and hold the bull by its horns and demand accountability from those entrusted with the taxpayers money to manage our passion, football. The national team has become a cash cow which many Coaches would want to take advantage of because it is quite a lazy and easy way of earning good money.

Otto Addo must be made to understand that the stakes are high at the moment because Quarter 2024 is staring us in the face and Ghanaians will not tolerate any more shoddy output. Local players must be prioritized to build a sense of patriotism in team Ghana as any local player will relish the opportunity, and perform well. Also, the FA must allow the newly appointed team leaders to do their work without the usual interference from the so-called top executives.

However, Otto Addo must be made to understand that anything less than victory will mean termination of his appointment without the usual pay-off remuneration. With this, there will always be a team ready to represent Ghana anytime and anywhere in the world. We hope that Ghana will beat Nigeria in the World Cup playoff qualifiers and subsequently excel in the tournament and perform better than it did in Germany 2008. Our yearn for a trophy has lingered on for far too long and this is our time to shine.