Ghana Premier League: Insufficient finances force clubs to sell key players – John Painstil
Black Stars Assistant Coach John Painstil has shared his perspective on player exodus affecting the Ghana Premier League.
Reflecting on the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League, he noted that this issue is a major one as several clubs prepare to lose key players during the off-season.
In an interview with Channel ONE TV at the Ghana Football Awards ceremony over the weekend, the former Berekum Arsenal and Liberty Professionals player, emphasized that insufficient financial investment in the league compels clubs to sell some of their players.
“Running football is a business, so if the player is young and has the opportunity to go why not. That’s why you don’t build a team around one or two players.”
“You need to have a squad if you really want to do business because the player can be 16 years and a club in Europe can buy for a long-term contract and the club owners need to get a return so I don’t think there’s a problem with that.”
“So when you are building a team you need to build the structure well so that you have many players. Don’t build around two or three players.”
Painstil played for Fulham, West Ham United, and South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs before retiring after participating in two FIFA World Cup tournaments with Ghana.
Following his retirement, Painstil, who holds a CAF Licence B, joined the Kaizer Chiefs coaching staff as an assistant. Earlier this year, he was appointed to the backroom team for new coach Otto Addo.
