Chris Hughton, the former Technical Director of the Black Stars of Ghana, released the first Black Stars squad on Thursday, March 9, 2023, with no player from the betPawa Premier League.
Danlad Ibrahim, the dependable goalkeeper of Asante Kotoko, is a notable local player who has been left out of the first batch of Black Stars following the squad that went to Qatar in 2022.
Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, a local player who was called up for Qatar 2022 in November, did not make the squad, despite the fact that he now plays for a European club, FC Zurich in the Swiss League.
Hughton’s decision not to name a local player to the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola on Thursday, March 23, 2023, prompted Accra Great Olympics head coach Bismark Kobi-Mensah to voice his candid opinion.
In an interview with Pure FM in Kumasi on March 15, 2023, the assistant coach of the Black Galaxies disclosed that some local players are better than some of the foreign-based players that Chris Hughton has called.
Bismark Kobi-Mensah explained to Bright Kankam Boadu of Pure FM, “I can tell you that most of the local players are better than the foreign players, and there are a lot of them.” He added, “Asante Kotoko midfielder Richmond Lamptey, for me, is one of the best midfielders in the country because he is technically good and covers a lot of distance.”
The assertion made by Great Olympics head coach Bismark Kobi-Mensah instigated the seductive team of editors at www.atspo.com to inquire among Black Stars supporters whether any local player deserves a spot in Chris Hughton’s first squad for the national team.
And most significantly, can Richmond Lamptey of Kumasi Asante Kotoko be in his best form for the season to convince Chris Hughton to be included in the team to play against the Palancas Negras of Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium?
