GFA Pressured me to Recruit Local Players- Otto Addo

According to the head coach of the senior national team, Otto Addo, the only pressure he endured under the Ghana Football Association (GFA) during his first and temporal spell with the Black Stars was to make use of players in the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

He made this known when a journalist questioned him about a viral declaration attributed to him as he resigned from the position in December 2022.

While announcing his resignation in December, he is reported to have confirmed speculations of influence and interference in the selection of players by the FA as he was quoted to have hoped “the next coach would have the free mind to work”.

Otto dispelled the report and noted, “I have a free mind. I am happy.”

He however admitted to coming under the pressure of the FA but indicated that it was to make use of local players.

“The only pressure they gave me was to bring local players.”

In his second spell with the Black Stars, Otto said he would give much attention to the local players in the league.

“I will look closer now that I have a full time. I will look closer and observe the league. I will be going round and watching. If a player is good, he is good. It doesn’t matter where he comes from or where he plays. I will look very close to find players from local league.”

After his short first spell, he is now on a three-year contract and after qualifying the Black Stars for the 2022 World Cup, it is hoped that he would repeat the same magic this time around as the 2026 World Cup qualifiers unfold.