Chris Hughton, the newly appointed Black Stars coach, has promised to spend more time in Ghana monitoring the Ghana Premier League and other domestic competitions.
Hughton, who faced criticism for not including any local players in his first squad, has vowed to give them the opportunity they deserve.
Hughton stated at his unveiling on Monday, “I will be spending more time in Ghana. I will be watching more games. I am constantly being made aware of players who are doing well. I’ll be paying more attention to [GPL] games because it is important that we have a strong national league.”
This pledge from the new coach would be welcomed by Ghana Premier League fans, who have accused previous Black Stars coaches of ignoring the local league and failing to attend games. Ghanaian football fans have long been dissatisfied with the perceived lack of support for the domestic league and have advocated for a greater focus on local talent.
Hughton’s commitment to monitoring the Ghana Premier League and other domestic competitions could be a significant boost for the league and help to raise the country’s football standard. It may also provide more opportunities for local players to showcase their abilities and earn national team calls.
Hughton’s pledge to pay more attention to local players differs from previous Black Stars coaches who have been accused of ignoring the domestic league. It remains to be seen whether his commitment will result in more local players being called up to future squads, but his words have been well received by league fans.
Hughton’s first assignment is a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola on Thursday at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.