Bechem United owner reveals rejected proposal for stronger local-based Black Stars squad

Kingsley Owusu Achiaw, the owner of Bechem United, has revealed that his proposal to strengthen the Black Stars with a more locally-based squad was rejected by football authorities and the Sports Minister two years ago.

In an interview on Asempa FM, Achau explained that his plan was designed to nurture homegrown talent by organizing a dedicated training camp for 25 local players under the guidance of the Black Stars’ head coach.

The initiative aimed to blend international experience with the prowess of local players in the national team setup.

Achau's proposal suggested that the coach call up 10 international players while filling the remaining spots with locally-based talent.

However, the proposal was dismissed by the authorities at the time.

This disclosure comes amid the recent withdrawal of eight players from the Black Stars' squad for the AFCON qualifiers due to injuries and personal reasons.

Achau, who has long been vocal about improving Ghanaian football, previously raised concerns about the lack of specialized training for strikers and goalkeepers, blaming the scarcity of top-quality coaches for the country's struggles in these areas.

The Black Stars are set to face Angola on November 15 and Niger on November 18, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium.