Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council Member, Samuel Oduro Nyarko has lauded Black Stars Head Coach, Chris Hughton and his technical team for monitoring local talents in the local top-flight.
Hughton and his assistants have been pictured at several venues this season ahead of Ghana’s next assignment in the 2023 Afcon qualifiers.
Speaking to Citi Sports in an exclusive interview, the former WA All Stars CEO, advised Hughton to extend his scouting range to other venues in his quest to assemble the best talents.
“It is good on the part of the coach, a coach who watches local games to select players for the national team. It is good.”
“I think that he should not limit [himself] to just Accra, he should monitor outside Accra as well, Dormaa, Berekum, so he can get the best for the Black Stars.”
“It is good he was here to witness the game between Accra Hearts of Oak v Nsoatreman FC.”
“It is a good game he can select some players from, so I like the idea.”
The recent attendance of Chris Hughton at match centers in the Ghana Premier League and other competitions has been explained by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as part of his responsibilities as the coach of the Black Stars.
During his first engagement with the media in Kumasi, Hughton pledged to see more local matches whenever he finds himself in Ghana to monitor talents and help make decisions about future call-ups.
Samuel Oduro Nyarko further advised local players selected for the national team to sustain their level of performance in a bid to secure a starting berth when handed call-ups.
“It is about performance, it is about sustaining your level of performance in the national team.”
“If you are selected from the local league and you maintain your form and can prove that you have what it takes to play in the Black Stars, I think you will be kept there.”
“It is important you lift your game when you are given the chance to play in the Black Stars and also fit into the level of the foreign-based players”
If you don’t and you flop, you get dropped from the national team.”
The former Brighton & Hove Albion Gaffer has guided the Black Stars to four points out of a possible six during his first two games against Angola in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
Ghana’s next qualifiers come up in June against Madagascar and Central African Republic.
The Black Stars sit at the top of Group E with eight points.