Accra, Aug. 29, GNA – A 20-member squad, forming the nucleus of the national senior soccer team, the Black Stars was named in Accra on Friday. The team, made up of eleven local and nine foreign-based players will embark on a two-match training tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait as part of its preparation for next year’s African Cup of Nations championships in Burkina Faso. Mr Rinus Israel, Head coach of the Black Stars told a press conference that the tour will not only serve as exposure for the players but also help him assess the team. The local players are: Osei Kuffour, Yaw Sekyi, Dan Edusei, Shellah Alhassan, Jacob Nettey, Emmanuel Opoku, Abdul Karim, Joe Ansah, Emmanuel Armah and Constance Mantey. Foster Batios, Odartey Lawson, Peter Ofori Quaye, Richard Kingston, Richard Ackon, Emmanuel Tetteh, Alex Nyako, Patrick Allotey and Baba Sule are the foreign-based players. Coach Israel said ”players who are unwilling and lack commitment will no longer be invited to the stars,” adding that additional players would be invited when the need arises. Nana Sam Brew Butler, Ghana Football Association (GFA) chairman, said players like Yaw Preko, who is injured, skipper Abedi Pele, (looking for schools for his kids) and Felix Aboagye, (featuring for Zamalek of Egypt in the CAF League Championship), would join the team later. He said the country would earn at least 20,000 dollars from the training tour.
