Black Stars coach Chris Hughton pledges his allegiance to watch more local football
Black Stars coach Chris Hughton has pledged his allegiance to spend more time in Ghana to monitor the Ghana Premier League and other domestic competitions.
Hughton was hugely criticised for not including any local players in his first squad but the gaffer has responded to critics, vowing to give them the opportunity they deserve.
Speaking at his unveiling in Kumasi on Monday, Hughton said, “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 allegiance from the new coach will send echoes of joy to the ardent followers of the Ghana Premier League, who have accused previous Black Stars coaches of neglecting the local league and not even watching the games.
Ghanaian football fans have always been left in anguish by the m lack of support for the domestic league and have called for greater attention to be paid to the nation’s pride.
Hughton’s commitment to monitoring the Ghana Premier League and other domestic competitions could be a significant boost for the league and could help to improve the standard of football in the country.
Hughton’s promise to pay closer attention to local players is a departure from previous Black Stars coaches who have been accused of neglecting the domestic league.
It remains to be seen whether his commitment will result in more call-ups for local players in future squads.
The gaffer’s words would prove vital in the FA’S quest to raise the standard of the local league which has seen some serious decline over the years in terms of fans attending games.
Hughton’s first assignment is on Thursday in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
