Veteran sports journalist and member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communication Team, Sheikh Tophic Sienu has emphasized that integrating players from the Ghana Premier League (GPL) into the Black Stars setup must be approached with patience and strategic planning.
Speaking prior to Ghana's Unity Cup match against Nigeria at the G-Tech Stadium in London, Sheikh Tophic addressed growing concerns among fans and pundits regarding the limited presence of home-based players in Black Stars call-ups — especially during high-profile international friendlies and qualifiers.
“For proponents of the GPL, it is understandable that they will call for more players in the team. What we need to understand is that it’s a transitional plan, you can’t get 20, 15, 10 players straight from the local league into the Black Stars, it’s a gradual process. We just need to give the coach the time to build the team that he wants to build.”
Tophic, known for his advocacy of local football, admitted that while the Ghana Premier League continues to produce talented players, bridging the gap between local club football and international competition takes more than just talent.
Harking back, personally as I file this report, I can point to the success stories of players like Afriyie Barnieh and Danlad Ibrahim, who made the transition through intermediate levels such as the U-20, U-23, and CHAN teams before gaining senior call-ups.
Strengthening Development Pathways
I will also call for a stronger development pipeline that will ensure GPL players have multiple opportunities to grow and be monitored through national team systems.
By: Pascal Amoah
