Former Ghana midfielder Anthony Obodai has stressed the need to strengthen the domestic league to help build a stronger national team.
The state of the Ghana Premier League has come under criticism following clubs' unimpressive outing in continental football in the past few years.
Ghana’s two top clubs, Hearts of Oak and Kotoko have been the best representatives in Africa but their feat of reaching the semifinals or further in CAF club competition was equaled by Dreams FC, who played in last season’s CAF Confederation Cup semis.
Obodai, who played for the defunct Liberty Professionals before moving to Dutch Eredivisie side Ajax as well as Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer, spoke to Pan-Africa Football on strengthening the local game.
“If you look at the current Ghana football league, standards have dropped and that is why the coaches don’t invite them for national assignments. If you look at the players themselves on the pitch, their quality level has dropped drastically."
“So if the Black Stars was able to invite three (local-based) players during the last AFCON qualifiers that is even a plus to the local league.
“That invitation was a serious motivation for the home based players and it will help their various clubs.” Anthony Obodai told Pan-Africa Football.
The Ghana Premier League went on a one week break for the December 7 general elections and it is expected to return to action next weekend at various venues.
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