Integrating Ghana League Players into Black Stars is a gradual process- Sheikh Tophic

Sheikh Tophic Sienu is a member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Team. He believes that integrating players from the Ghana Premier League (GPL) into the Black Stars requires patience.

His comments came before Ghana's Unity Cup game against Nigeria at G-Tech Community Stadium in England.

Ghana lost 2-1 to Nigeria in this four-nation tournament. Black Stars head coach Otto Addo included four GPL players in his 23-man squad. This included Kumasi Asante Kotoko striker Kwame Opoku and Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.

Many people in Ghanaian football think more GPL players should have been called up. Tophic Sienu acknowledged this perspective, saying it’s understandable.

He emphasized that integrating players is a transitional plan. “You can’t get 20, 15, or 10 players straight from the local league,” he said. It must be a gradual process.

Sienu urged everyone to give the coach time to build his team. All four GPL players started in Ghana’s loss to Nigeria.