The ex-Ghanaian pugnacious midfield enforcer has launched a scathing attack on the country's top-flight competition, with those in charge of its affairs told the contest is nothing short of a complete ''mess''
Retired Ghana international Sulley Muntari has branded Ghana Premier League as a ''mess'' as well as a ''big hole for dumping money'' to the detriment of players plying their trade on the local scene.
The 40-year-old, who begun his professional career with Liberty Professional in 2000, is embittered with the kind of facilities he met in the top-flight after staging a return to the domestic league with Ghanaian heavyweights Hearts of Oak during the 2021-22 season.
The revered Ghanaian icon is with the strongest conviction that with the precarious condition of the elite division, the players would continue to face challenges in their career if the menace is not addressed as soon as possible.
''I enjoyed it. Hearts fans and the president were amazing. The league is a big hole where they are dumping money. There is no future for the local league. I am hoping I can get some funds and really help them. It’s a mess. When I was there, it was a mess. Maybe now it is worse. If we don’t help these guys, we won’t get the top players,'' the outspoken retired midfielder fired to 3Sports.
He added by touching on the sporting facilities across the nation given their deplorable nature: ''The changing rooms smell. That respect is not there. I didn’t even want my laundry done. I would take it home. When you get into changing rooms, they smell bad. It is not just one team. Everybody.''
Muntari enjoyed a productive footballing career following spells with Udinese Calcio, lnter Milan, AC Milan, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Deportivo de La Coruña in over two decades abroad. He won the prestigious UEFA Champions League title and Serie A with lnter Milan during the 2008-2010 seasons. Again, FA Cup trophy with then Premier League side Portsmouth has also been annexed during the 2007-08 campaign.
The Konongo-born midfield enforcer boasts of 84 caps with Ghana Men's Senior National Team, the Black Stars with 20 goals to his name before calling time on his international career with the four-time African champions in 2022.
He figured in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and three FIFA World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010 and 2014) before hanging up his boots.
