In the wake of the Black Stars’ disappointing exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has called for a substantial overhaul of scouting methods at the district level.
Expressing concern over the team’s inability to foster cohesive long-term bonds, Hon. Mensah Bonsu underscored the urgency of reassessing the recruitment process.
He hinted at a notable gap between globally sourced players and team unity, suggesting that the current approach may hinder the team’s success.
During a session in Parliament, Hon. Mensah Bonsu remarked, “We Academicals was strong, our gameplay was strong, colts is gone, Academicals is gone, first division teams which we now call premier teams were playing reserve soccer, where has it gone to?”
Highlighting the challenge of integrating players from diverse backgrounds, he pointed out the disparity between the Black Stars’ composition and the cohesive unity seen in teams like Cape Verde, where players predominantly compete together in the same leagues.
He stressed the importance of allowing sufficient time for the coaching staff to nurture and integrate talents from different regions. Additionally, he advocated for a grassroots approach to talent discovery, emphasizing the need to identify and develop raw talents at the district level.
”Now we are bringing players from all over the world who are not able to gel together for a long time we introduce them we are talking about Cape Verde do you know what happens to Cape Verde do they have any strong local football administration.”
Hon. Mensah Bonsu’s call for a comprehensive revamp in scouting methods aims to address the structural issues hindering the Black Stars’ performance and foster a stronger sense of unity and cohesion within the team.
“All the players are playing in Portugal so they know themselves which is not what obtains here. We bring them from various places that in that regard we should give our handlers enough time to do this. They should help us discover raw talents at the districts put together good teams there,”
