Don’t dissolve the Black Stars – Malik Jabir

Kumasi, Feb. 13, GNA – The management of the senior national team, the Black Stars, has been advised to maintain the team, despite the not too impressive performance at the just ended African Cup of Nations tournament hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Malik Jabir, a former keey play of the Stars’ and coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Sporting Club, cautioned that “we should not out of frustration do anything in a haste that would be regrettable in the future for us and the team.”

The team finished fourth in the recent AFCON tournament, a performance seen by many a Ghanaian soccer fan as a failure, particularly against the backdrop of the team’s splendid display at the last Nations Cup and World Cup.

Speaking to the GNA Sport in Kumasi on Monday, he suggested that the technical team should be made to present its report on what actually happened that led to the Stars failing to win at least a medal although they were one of the pre- tournament favourites.

Malik Jabir said he thinks the team performed averagely and that time had come for all to brainstorm and identify the causes and to make amends where necessary.

Selection to the national team should, he insisted must be based on performance and not where one plys his trade.

He said he found it difficult to rationalize why some local based players who were doing so well in the ongoing Premier League were not given the chance to feature for the Stars and added in future there is the need for caution and such mistakes and decisions must not be repeated.

Malik Jabir lauded the young players for their courage and stressed the need to maintain some of the experienced players in the team for continuity sake.

He commended Zambia for winning the Cup notwithstanding the huge odds.