The owner and financier of FC Samartex, Dr. Richard Nsenkyire, has emphasized the need for local players in Ghana’s top-flight league to gain exposure before being integrated into the Black Stars.
His comments come amidst Ghana’s disappointing performance in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, where the senior national team failed to win a single match, recording three defeats and three draws. In response, many have called for the Black Stars to be built around players from the domestic league.
While Dr. Nsenkyire supports this idea, he insists that a strategic approach is essential to ensure success.
“It is a good idea to build the national team around local players, but there should be a conscious effort in doing that,” he told Asempa FM.
He further explained, “There should be deliberate steps to make sure everything is done right because football is now scientific. These players need exposure and must understand the demands of playing for the national team. I believe that if we approach this properly, we can develop a strong team.”
During the recent squad selection by Otto Addo for matches against Angola and Niger, several players from the Ghana Premier League, including Emmanuel Antwi, Isaac Afful, Razak Simpong, and Jerry Afriyie, were given opportunities to represent the Black Stars.
