We must allow Chris Hughton free hands to select the best players to deliver for Ghana – Cudjoe Fianoo

Experienced football administrator Cudjoe Fianoo has thrown his weight behind the new Black Stars head coach, Chris Hughton, stating that he believes the coach is capable of doing a good job for the Ghanaian team.

However, Fianoo emphasizes that Hughton must be given the freedom to select players that he believes can deliver for the country.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event attended by footballghana.com, Fianoo highlighted that football is not a parliament where every constituency must be represented. Therefore, it should not matter whether a player is selected from the local league or from abroad. Once the player is selected by the coach, the team must be supported.

Fianoo, who is also the chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), believes that the coach should be left to pick players that can deliver. He states that regardless of whether the player is local or foreign, the priority is for them to wear the Black Stars jersey and bring joy to Ghanaians.

The GHALCA boss stated, “If the colour is white, green, or whatever, we want Ghanaians to play for the Black Stars and take us to where we want to get to.”

Fianoo’s comments come at a time when there have been concerns about the selection of players for the Black Stars. In the past, there have been debates about whether the coach should select players based on merit or whether they should be chosen to represent different regions of the country.

Hughton and his team are not expected to be in action until June when the qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON resume. However, Fianoo’s comments are likely to be taken into consideration by the coach as he works to assemble a squad that can compete at the highest level.

In conclusion, Fianoo’s statement is a clear indication that the selection of players for the Black Stars must be based on merit rather than other considerations. By allowing Hughton to have the freedom to select the best players, Ghanaians can be assured that the team will be competitive and will have a good chance of success in future competitions.