You were beating around the bush - Songo calls out Stephen Appiah over claims on Black Stars selection

Controversial broadcaster, Patrick Osei Agyemang commonly known as Countryman Songo has called out former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah for failing to address supposed pertinent issues in the Black Stars during a meeting with the Parliamentary Select Committee.

Songo asserted that the issues that should have been addressed were the appointment of mediocre coaches and a supposed agenda against local players.

"Say things the way they need to be said, don't be afraid. It is clear that Stephen Appiah and others are beating around the bush. They know the real problems of our national team but they ignore it," he said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.

"You should've told them the truth when you were called. The main issue that Appiah should have addressed was the appointment of bad coaches. He should've told parliament. The most bizarre appointment among them all is the appointment of Otto Addo," he added.

He said Appiah during his heydays played alongside local players at the Black Stars who were top talents, hence, leading a fight for local players to be given a chance is long overdue.

"First of all, since when did they realise that the local boys deserve a chance to play the Black Stars? When he was a Black Stars player, there were local players as well and they were very good players. Today, the truth is that some GFA officials have decided not to allow local players to play for the Black Stars. And also hiring of mediocre coaches."

Ghana have hugely relied on foreign-based talents for the Black Stars for a long while now which has drawn concerns over the technical team consistently ditching local players.

Appiah during his meeting with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports on September 25, 2024, recounted how local talents complimented foreign-based players to form a good blend back in the day.

"The local players should be given the chance to play for the national team. In our time, there were key players, but we worked hard for it. For instance, in the 2004 World Cup, Osei Kufuor, who was playing in Italy, was benched in the second game for Shilla Illiasu, who was playing for Kotoko. There are other instances where local players did well for the team."

EE/EK