I will not invite you to sit on the bench - Akonnor to local players

Head coach of the Black Stars CK Akonnor has promised to give more local players the opportunity to get much playing time under his watch.

CK Akonnor invited four players to the Black Stars in his first call-up as head coach of the senior national football team.

But it is believed that they have been invited to make up the numbers, only to sit on the bench.

However, the 46-year-old has said that he will give local players equal opportunity to excel in the coulours of the Black Stars as the foreign-based players.

“I would like to give the chance to the locals more. When I started playing [for Black Stars], the likes of Frimpong Manso, Armah Senegal and Salifu Ansah the goalkeeper, they were senior guys. We had a majority of locals in the team. I started playing as a local player before I travelled abroad. It has changed and I think it is up to us to try as much as we can to improve that area because there is a big gap,” Speaking in an interview with GFA media team.

“Of course once we see a players doing well, I will give him that chance and they should also believe that they are coming to play, not even to be on the bench.”

He added: “They should believe that and that will show automatically in training. These are the things that they will have to do and that comes from the individual.”