Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah believes there are available local-based players worthy of representing Ghana on the international stage.
In recent times, players from the Ghana Premier League have struggled to break into the senior national team with Kotoko goalkeeper Frederick Asare the only beneficiary in the last couple of call-ups.
In the last major tournament – the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Two local players were called up to the Black Stars squad with none featuring at the continental showpiece.
In addressing the issue, Stephen Appiah, who captained Ghana to its first-ever World Cup in 2006, drew inferences from the competition, highlighting the need to give a competitive outlook to the team through the involvement of local players.
“We have to give the local players the chance and confidence to play for the national team. In our time, there were players who looked key who were not but were pushing us. At the 2006 World Cup, Osei Kuffour was a top, top defender but after the game against Italy, the 2nd game against Czech Republic it was Shilla Illiasu who was playing for Kotoko who came in and stamped the position. Brilliant player. There was Habib Mohammed, a local player who took the left back position,” he said during an appearance at the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports.
“In our time, there was competition. Today, there is not competition so some of the players they feel so cool that whether they play well or not, they will play,” he added.
Additionally, the former Accra Hearts of Oak player bemoaned the lack of attractiveness of the local league, leading to players, who earn low salaries, seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
“Our players are now running to go Tanzania, it is a shame. They should rather be coming here. Our players are going to Sudan.”
“When we played against Niger, the best player, no. 7 who was the best player on the pitch who played for Niger is a Ghanaian. We have a striker who won the goal king in the Ghana Premier League, he plays for Togo. We have to give them the chance.”
Ghana take on Sudan on October 11, 2024, with the team aiming to record their first win since June 10.
By Andrews Sefa Bamfo
The post Local players receive strong backing from Stephen Appiah first appeared on 3News.
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