Sports
Player selection, a coach’s headache
A statement attributed to Black Stars Assistant Coach, John Paintsil, regarding player selection has sent tongues wagging and teeth gnashing.
In a media interview, Paintsil hinted that there could be ‘a lot of surprises’ when the final Black Stars list for the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament is announced.
No matter how one looks at it, it is clear Paintsil only stated the obvious and come June 1, when the final announcement is made by the technical team, some would be happy; others would be disappointed.
Trying to step into the shoes of the coach, Otto Addo, one realises that selections for such high-profile tournament is the most difficult part of preparations.
Over the years, it has been shown that a player’s participation can be on merit. There have also been circumstances when a player’s selection is ill-deserved but on what basis is that conclusion reached?
There is an interesting analogy in Ghana’s World Cup selection history with Otto Addo being a major beneficiary at a time fans may think he didn’t deserve it.
The German born did not play in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers for Ghana, but was later included in the final squad for the World Cup tournament in Germany. Despite not featuring in the qualifying campaign, he played a role in the squad’s preparation and was part of the team that represented Ghana at the World Cup for the first time.
He did no wrong; neither did the selectors. Such is the nature of football. The ‘Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop’ theory clearly applies.
And for a technical team that has been working so hard to put together a proper representation at the football showpiece, this theory could be revisited, putting Paintsil’s comments about shocks in proper perspective.
Otto Addo has indicated that the technical team will cast its net wide to identify the best talent to put together a formidable team, irrespective of where they are based.
In the game of football, no player’s spot is guaranteed. In cases where players maintain consistent performances, he can be unfortunately ruled out by injury like it has happened in the case of Salisu Mohammed.
There were other players as well that started the qualifiers. Mention can be made of players like Dennis Odoi and Tauriq Lamptey.
Others lost their positions through poor performances and because there was no time to wait, new players are selected to fill the gaps.
There are also players that peak at the right time, making it difficult for the selectors to ignore them.
All of these developments can have dire consequences on the structure of the final team and fans must, therefore, view Paintsil’s clue as one that serves as a timely reminder of the harsh realities under which teams are managed, rather than looking at it as intimidation.
Top coaches all over the world have stated how it is impossible to please their players just because on a match day, only 11 players can start.
Otto Addo will face the same situation in his bid to assemble the best.
Ghana has been drawn into Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia. The Black Stars will kick off their campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, face England in Boston, and conclude the group stage against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.
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Asante Kotoko SC has announced with deep sadness the passing of its former Brands and Marketing Manager, Kweku Hammond.
In a statement released by the club, Kotoko described Hammond’s death as untimely and expressed heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones.
“Although his time with the club was brief, Kweku served with dedication, diligence, and unwavering commitment to Asante Kotoko,” the club stated. “His contributions and loyalty to the club will not be forgotten.”
Kweku Hammond served in the club’s Brands and Marketing department, where he played a role in promoting the Porcupine Warriors’ brand and engaging supporters.
The club assured that it will continue to honour his memory and legacy.
“May his soul rest in perfect peace,” the statement concluded.
Fans and members of the football fraternity have since joined the club in mourning, sharing tributes to Hammond for his professionalism and commitment during his time at club.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Captain of Ghana’s National U-15 Boys team, Abdul Aziz Issa, says the exposure gained at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan will be vital for the development of the squad.
Ghana finished 7th out of 189 countries after an impressive campaign, winning eight of ten matches.
“I think we played well, the exposure was good for our development, and we can’t thank FIFA and the GFA enough for this amazing platform,” Issa said.
“I’m so very happy to be part of this FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan. I want to thank my colleagues for how far we have brought Ghana in this tournament.”
The captain believes the experience will prepare the group for future challenges at U-17 and U-20 level.
Ghana enjoyed an outstanding tournament, scoring 44 goals and establishing themselves among the top seven teams.
Their dominant group stage saw them score 27 goals while conceding just three. Salifu Fatawu’s side opened with a commanding 4-1 win over Uzbekistan, thrashed Myanmar 7-1, recorded emphatic 7-0 wins over Guam and the Bahamas, before rounding off the group with a 2-1 triumph over Kazakhstan.
Their pursuit of a higher finish suffered a setback in the knockout phase after elimination by Paraguay in a dramatic encounter.
The team bounced back to finish 7th, including a commanding 4-0 victory over Colombia in their final game, despite suffering a 7-1 defeat to Brazil in the Tier A Ranking Play-Offs.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
