Black Stars assistant coach John Paintsil has urged Ghana Premier League clubs to avoid structuring their teams around a single player. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong core to withstand the departure of players who frequently move abroad.
In recent times, players like Emmanuel Keyekeh, Richmond Lamptey, and Steven Mukwala have signed with clubs in Rwanda and Tanzania, highlighting this trend. Paintsil remarked in an interview on Asempa FM, “Running football is a business, so if the player is young and has the opportunity to go, why not?”
He further advised clubs to expand their rosters to remain competitive and sustainable: “You need to have a big squad, if you really want to do business. The player can be 16 years and the team in Europe can buy for a long-term contract.”
Highlighting the financial aspects, Paintsil added, “The man who, the chairman, the president himself, who is using his money needs to get a return. So I don't think there's a problem in that.”
He concluded with a strategic recommendation: “When you are building a team, you need to build the structure well, so that you have many players. Don't build a team around one or two players.”
