Charles Kwablan Akonnor, former Black Stars captain and coach, has expressed that he will not hasten his younger son, Charles Kwablan Herrmann, to switch from playing for Germany to representing Ghana.
Herrmann played a key role in Germany's success at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, contributing to their victory over France in a penalty shootout to secure the trophy.
Akonnor, speaking to Graphic Sports, highlighted that he has not discussed the possibility of Herrmann playing for Ghana in the future. He emphasized that it might not be practical to bring a young player from abroad to represent the national team at the juvenile level when local talents are available.
While commending his son's contribution to Germany's U-17 World Cup triumph, Akonnor emphasized that he wants Herrmann to make his own decision. He pointed out the challenges of bringing a player for under-17 competitions and suggested that Ghana should focus on utilizing local talents for junior teams.
“At their age, we are not good with these under-17 things, and who will pay for a ticket for somebody to come to Africa to play for under-17? Another thing too is that maybe they should look at the talent in Ghana and use them,” he said.
Akonnor stated that at the senior level, if Herrmann is ready to represent Ghana, he would fully support him. He cited examples like Kevin-Prince Boateng, who did not play at the junior level for Ghana but represented the Black Stars.
During the World Cup in Indonesia, Herrmann played a significant role, making five appearances, scoring one goal, and providing three assists.
