The General Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to establish a standby squad for the Black Stars to ensure the national team has a reliable pool of quality players available at all times.
Speaking on Ahotor FM in Accra, Mr. Koomson said Ghana possesses abundant football talent locally and internationally but lacks a structured second-tier national team capable of stepping in when regular players are unavailable.
He argued that creating a standby squad would provide healthy competition for places, reduce pressure on key players and ensure continuity in the performance of the national team.
According to him, several Ghanaian footballers are currently performing well in major leagues across countries including Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine.
However, he noted that club commitments and concerns over injuries sometimes affect players’ willingness to accept national team invitations.
“We should not always find ourselves pleading with players before they honour national team invitations.
There should be a pool of equally committed and talented players ready to step in at any time,” he said.
Mr. Koomson also expressed confidence in the current technical leadership of the Black Stars, describing the head coach as experienced and capable of building a competitive side if provided with the needed support and independence.
He, however, raised concerns about alleged interference and favouritism in player selection, insisting that national team call-ups must be based solely on merit, discipline and performance.
“There should be no godfatherism or financial influence in selection.
Only hardworking and disciplined players deserve to represent Ghana,” he stressed.
The GFL General Secretary further urged football authorities to improve talent scouting and player development structures across the country to build a stronger foundation for the Black Stars and Ghana football as a whole.
