Former Ghana international Shilla Illiasu has challenged Avram Grant's end of contractual agreement with the Ghana Football Association telling the Israeli tactician to cast his net wide  and engage the services of deserving players who ply their trade in the local league.

Shilla Illiasu made the 2006 World Cup squad for Ghana
Shilla Illiasu made the 2006 World Cup squad for Ghana

In an interview on Ashh FM's "Super Sport" show, Shilla who won a place in the Black Stars squad for the 2006 World Cup challenged the manager of the senior national team to call up local-based players who deserve to be given the nod as was done in his time.

According to the tough-tackling defender, there was a criteria the Ghana Football Association adopted to ensure that qualified local-based players were given the opportunity to feature for the Black Stars and does not see why that same criteria cannot be adopted now.

"In our time, there were some criteria that were put infront of the Ghana Football Association to ensure that if a local-based player is qualified he is given the chance" he said

The former Kotoko player questioned Avram Grant's fulfilment  of the contractual agreement between he and the Ghana Football Association by staying in the country heaping praise on former Black Stars head coach Ratomir Dujkovic in the process for making station in Ghana during his tenure as Ghana coach.

"I remember the coach who was in charge in my time Dujkovic spent almost his entire life in the country. Let us ask ourselves, is our coach (Avram Grant) ready to fulfil his contractual agreement by staying in the country? Even if he is not in the country his assistant (Maxwell Konadu) is Ghanaian and knows the local terrain very well so what are they doing? he asked

"They are clearly telling us that they is no way for local players. I am hoping our coach will cast the net wider because they are a lot of quality material in the local league. I am not sure the national team should not belong to the foreigners only" he added.

Shilla Illiasu who restarted his career with Real Tamale United after suffering an injury setback hinted at playing for a local-based club next season refusing to give any clues of the imminent move.

The player admitted that a move to Olympics did not materialise saying he has spoken with some clubs ahead of a move to one of the biggest clubs.

"I nearly signed for Oly but it didn't materialise" he said

"Currently I have spoken to some clubs but I don't want to mention it now because it is confidential but I am hoping that if I am still in the country my fans will see me playing for one of the bigger clubs"

Shilla Illiasu had trial stints with English giants Arsenal and BlackBurn Rovers after his impressive display at the 2006 World Cup with Ghana and eventually joined Russian side FC Saturn.

By Musah Abelyire/ghanaguardian.com/twitter:@DewriteOne_

credit:Akakpo Kakai/Ashh FM