We Look at How You Play Not Where You Play; Otto Addo on Player Selection
The Head Coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo has provided an insight into the technical team’s player selection criteria to quell public sentiments formed around the calibre of players he goes in for for international matches.
According to him, the team of coaches focus on the competence of the player to hand them call-ups. He noted that players catch their attention with their style of play if only it syncs with what they look up to.
Speaking at a press briefing on October 4 during the outdooring of his 25 squad to face Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, he noted that the location of players does not count in their consideration.
“I’m looking for players who can play. It doesn’t matter if you are a local or not. Dividing the player is not fair…For me is not where you play but how you play and if a player catches my attention, then I will call him. There are a lot of things I take into consideration: the way he plays, trains and more.
“We as a coaching team, are looking for good players no matter where, whether they are in Europe, local league, playing in America, Asia or whatever we don’t care. We are looking for players who fit into the way we want to play. It’s important that we find such players.”
Ghanaian coaches have consistently endured backlash for excluding local players from the squad for international players.
In his squad for the Sudan game, only two local players, Federick Asare and Isaac Afful, were named.
Among the players named by Otto are Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Joseph Wollacot, Frederick Asare, Tariq Lamptey, Kingsley Schindler, Alexander Djiku, Abdul Mumin, Mohammed Salisu, Jerome Opoku, Alisu Seidu, Gideon Mensah, Isaac Afful, Thomas Partey, Ibrahim Sulemana and Majeed Ashimeru.
The rest are Elisha Owusu, Mohammed Kudus, Ibrahim Osman, Ernest Nuamah, Issahaku Fatawu, Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew, Joseph Paintsil, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Inaki Williams.
Ghana will host Sudan at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday, October 10 and then head to Libya for the return leg scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
