Osam focuses on central defence

Accra, May 23, GNA - Black Starlets coach, Fred Osam Doudu is focused on sharpening the central defence of the team in his quest to build an all round team for the Korea World Cup campaign in September.

The Starlets are pitted with Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia and Germany in Group F for the championships that spans August 18-September 9.

Coach Doudu told the GNA Sports in Accra that with the team shaping up well, his focus will now be on the central rear which he described as the only element of worry in the current team of 28. "The central defence is the only section with a slight problem. We are seriously working on the players to ensure we get a perfect team that will exceed expectations in Korea."

The Starlets, bronze medallists in the last African U-17 Championship held in Togo last March are billed to participate in an eight-nation tournament scheduled for Korea next month. Coach Doudu was hopeful that the June 16-23 tourney would provide the team the required exposure ahead of the biannual event which brings together the world's best 16 juvenile teams.

The coach is expected to trim the squad to 21 for both tournaments.

The former Black Stars coach confided with the GNA Sports that "the attack and midfield is in perfect shape but all they require now is a bit of polishing and tough games to keep their sharpness intact". The team will leave Ghana for the eight-nation championship on Wednesday, June 13.

The chunk of the squad is from the team that won three games in five outings in the Togo event where Ghana was considered the pre-tournament favourites.