Ex-Black Stars & Kumasi Asante Kotoko Player, Yusif Chibsah has called for the implementation of a quota system for locally based players into the national team under Hughton’s regime.
Chibsah’s declaration comes on the back of the Black Stars technical team’s presence at match venues this season.
Asked about what he expects to see from Chris Hughton’s next call-up for the two Afcon qualifiers in June and September, Chibsah called for opportunities to be handed to in-form locally based players at the national team level.
The former kotoko midfielder spoke in an exclusive interview with CitiSports.
For me, if we want to create an opportunity or an avenue for our local players in the domestic league to have places in the national team, unless we have quota.
We dedicate a quota to the local league, we make sure that out of 20 or something players called up to the Black Stars, there should be a percentage, maybe one percent quota or two percent dedicated to the locally based players.
We all know that not all players get to play when they come to the national team and if we want to be fair and judge players based on their performance, then we would always go with the foreign based players.
Because their performance is always ahead, but we have local players here in the country who are upcoming talents who need to be given the opportunity not to play, but be part of the national team, it will serve as a learning process for them.
You get to mingle with the big boys, it serves as motivation for them, that is where I see the angle of quota system given to the local players.
Anytime, there’s call up and we have one or two local players, it gives the others the motivation to play better with the mindset of getting call-ups to the national team,” he stated.
Chris Hughton first call-up for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers against the Black Antelopes of Angola in March had no local player amongst the 25- man squad for the assignment.
Given his recent appearance together with his two assistants. ie. Mas-ud Didi Dramani & George Boateng at several venues of the betpawa premier league this season, many football fans are expectant of seeing one or two players from the local league called up into the national team for the last two qualifiers against Madagascar and Central African Republic.
Former Accra Hearts of Oak starman Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, who now plies his trade with FC Zurich in the Swiss league and current Kumasi Asante Kotoko shot-stopper Danlad Ibrahim were the only two players to make the cut for the 2022 QATAR FIFA WORLD Cup under ex-gaffer Otto Addo.