I still prefer local coaches for the Black Stars - Vanderpuye

Newly vetted Youth and Sports Minister, Hon. Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has indicated his preference for local coaches for our national team instead of hiring foreign coaches in his first radio interview on Happy FM after his vetting.

Speaking to Happy FM Tuesday morning, the maverick Member of Parliament for the Odododiodoo Constituency said he has always been a proponent for us to have local coaches for our national team.

“My view has always been that local coaches should be given preference over foreign coaches when it comes to the national team. Almost all the major achievements we’ve chalked in our national teams have been with local coaches.” Nii Lantey told Happy FM.

He expressed his worry over how these foreign coaches are paid exorbitant salaries while they spend little time in the country except when the national team has a game. Even though they don’t do any better than our local coaches who are given the job.

“It’s surprising that we pay our foreign Black stars coaches exorbitant salaries but they don’t tend to stay in the country at all except to assemble players when the national team has a game. The Black stars head coach receives much more money than even the president of the country but instead of him staying here to help our local coaches by transferring some knowledge to them, he spends all his time abroad. I will always advocate for local football on any day.” He added.

Hon. Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye is a former amateur boxer and footballer, former broadcast journalist and has served in several sports administrative roles including being president for the Ghana Weightlifting Federation.