Chairman of Ghana's Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports, Ernest Henry Norgbey, has come out in defense of the Black Stars' coach, stating that sacking him is not the solution to the team's recent struggles. In an interview on Akoma 87.9 FM, Norgbey emphasized that the problems plaguing the Black Stars go beyond the coach and involve issues with player selection. He suggested that even top coaches like Carlo Ancelotti, José Mourinho, or Pep Guardiola would not be able to solve the team's problems with the current players and individuals in place.
Norgbey alleged that financial interests may be influencing player selection, with some players being chosen to be sold to clubs outside Ghana, rather than based on their performance. He claimed that some players who are not performing well are still being selected in an attempt to market them to clubs abroad and generate revenue. According to Norgbey, this has created a major issue affecting the team's performance.
The comments come after Ghana's 4-2 defeat to The Gambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Accra Sports Stadium. Despite the defeat, Norgbey ruled out calls for the immediate dismissal of the coach or the Sports Minister, arguing that repeatedly changing coaches and leadership without addressing the underlying issues could worsen the situation.
Norgbey stressed that sacking the coach or the minister is not an option at this moment, and that the focus should be on investigating and addressing the root causes of the team's poor performance. He emphasized that the committee is yet to conduct a full investigation into the matter and that they will work to understand the challenges facing the national team and Ghana football generally.
The chairman of the Parliamentary Sports Committee described player selection as one of the major issues affecting the team, but noted that the committee has yet to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. He assured that the committee will do its best to help improve the standard of play and football in Ghana.
Norgbey's comments form part of growing discussions around the state of Ghana football following the Black Stars' latest defeat. The Parliament's Select Committee on Sports is expected to engage key stakeholders as it seeks to understand the challenges facing the national team and Ghana football generally.
The committee's engagement with stakeholders is expected to provide clarity on the issues affecting Ghana football and potential solutions to the team's struggles. Norgbey's defense of the coach and call for a thorough investigation into player selection have sparked a renewed debate about the state of Ghana football and the way forward for the Black Stars.
Key points
- Sacking the coach is not an option, says Ernest Norgbey
- Financial interests may be influencing player selection, claims Norgbey
- Committee to investigate player selection and challenges facing Ghana football
