Coach Duncan opts for local players

Accra, Feb. 16, GNA - Black Meteors Coach, David Duncan has put any call up for foreign-based players on hold as he looks within to build a formidable team.

The Meteors are preparing for qualification towards the All African Games and when they first faced Benin and throughout the qualifying period, no foreign player may have a part to play.

Coach Duncan told GNA Sports that "I'm looking within for now to form my team. I like what I'm seeing. The quality within is good and perhaps I have to make do with the talent I have."

The position, according to him is guided by the usual trouble associated with getting foreign teams to release players since the All African Games and its qualifiers do not fall within the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA)'s obligations on player releas= e.

"It is important to build a team with materials that can always be available especially when this competition does not fall within those FIFA mandates the clubs to release players for national duty.

"Besides, if we like the quality we see in this build up, then reputation won't matter. It will be down to what we see. In any case some= of these players being touted around have dipped in form and their current status is unknown by many.

"It is better not to focus on something you cannot insist on. I'm hoping to build a solid team and if any player fits into my scheme of things, why not."

Coach Duncan told GNA Sports that he will only add onto the 26 players in camp presently but only when there is an opening for a vacuum to be filled.

Ghana fared poorly at the last competition in Algeria in 2007 and subsequently failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and it is for this the experienced coach hopes to amend.