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Former Asante Kotoko shares her thoughts on the Black Stars’ recent quest to woo players from the diaspora.
Former Ghana and Mainz 05 midfielder Nana Darteh Bediako is the latest to attribute the nation’s struggle to secure the international future of diaspora players to bad press.
West Africans have set out to follow in the footsteps of countries like Nigeria, Morocco and Algeria to expand their talent pool with foreign-born players.
However, the search for Ghana has not been as successful as they hoped, having been turned down by a number of players, most recently including Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams, Greuther Furth winger Jamie Leweling and Rennes’ Jeremy Doku.
“They [players of Ghanaian descent abroad] They are afraid to play for the country because they believe it will not end well for them, “Bediako told Happy FM on Wednesday.
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“Some of the things they hear about playing for the Black Stars put them off: the insults, the harsh criticism and many others.
“You cannot force them to make the decision to change their nationality. I would love to see my son play for the Black Stars. I am sure Abedi Pele is happy to see his children.” [Andre and Jordan Ayew] play for the Black Stars. “
Despite its low success rate over the years, Ghana does not give up on its search.
Soccer officials from the West African country are currently locked in talks with Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah and Brighton and Hove Albion right back Tariq Lamptey in an attempt to lure players away from representing their country of origin, England, at the top level.
Anderlecht winger Francis Amuzu and Ajax Amsterdam star Brian Brobbey are also on the Black Stars radar.
“There are many perceptions about how Ghanaian footballers play,” Black Stars management committee chairman George Amoakoh told Nhyira FM in September.
“Destructive tendencies in the game, those who deliberately want to hurt you and cut short your career.
“Then the usual endless speculation, especially about Ghanaian players using ‘juju’ to play football.
“Even those [players in the diaspora] who grew up here and go to Europe to play there, most of them, because of ‘juju’, they don’t want to play for Ghana.
“It is a very big problem that we are trying to solve and correct.”
Former Dutch Under-21 center-back Derrick Luckassen and the French-born trio of Alexander Djiku, Enock Kwateng and Elisha Owusu recently pledged their allegiance to the four-time African champions.
