Former Ghana midfielder Godwin Attram has downplayed the negative notion that the West African nation lacks football talent.
The media is awash with massive and critical discussions since the Black Galaxies' failure to qualify for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN). Ghana were held to a goalless draw by Nigeria in the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium before slumping to a 3-1 loss in the reverse fixture at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Ghana defeated Nigeria in the last qualifying edition but it turned out to be a sweet revenge this time for the home based Super Eagles which has irked the Ghanaian football faithful. That notwithstanding, Godwin Attram, who was one of the assistants when Ghana performed abysmally in the last CHAN tournament in Algeria, believes there are more talents dotted across the nation.
“We have, honestly speaking like I started talking about the local game, [we have the players]. Myself, Stephen Appiah, talk about the old days... Abedi Pele, George Alhassan, Shamo Quaye, Samuel Osei Kuffour, all of them.
“So nobody can tell me that we don’t have the local players but the problem here is how we are portraying our football,” Godwin Attram told Pan-Africa Football. "We have everything. I’m nurturing players, that is why my team is playing very well. Even if I play and lose [a game], I’m very happy because I want to see good football.
“It’s not only about results oriented but we are developing players so it’s important to see good football. If this player has the potential, we have to bring him to the top, this is very important,” Godwin Attram told Pan-Africa Football.
“It comes down to all our big men, the management, how they will organize things for the players and for the coaches to train the boys. When Nigeria came here, in the first half we were much better than them but we couldn’t utilize our chances and they stepped in at the second half and they were very good.
“So I think for Nigeria winning, we were all hoping that Ghana will go there and prove a point then maybe change something but honestly speaking, they [Nigeria] were a better side," Attram concluded.
Nigeria have qualified for the major tournament exclusively for domestic-based players which will co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in February. It is their first in six years after missing the last two editions.
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