By: Joshua Nii Appiah, Doha
Ex-Ghana and Bayern Munich defender, Samuel Osei Kuffuor has advised Ghanaians to desist from blaming some Black Stars players for Ghana’s elimination from the ongoing FIFA 2022 world cup in Qatar. The Black stars failed to progress from Group H after managing just a win over South Korea and losing to Portugal and Uruguay.
Ghana’s group stage elimination sparked off sharp criticisms from some fans on the Ghanaian media landscape. Black Stars skipper Andre Ayew has been criticised and accused after he made a horrendous miss from the penalty spot which would have put Ghana ahead in the crucial game against Uruguay.
Other players including Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey have also been blamed by some fans who believe he deliberately did not put in his best, while Baba Abdul Rahman is being bashed for what they describe as lackluster performance in his left-back role.
But Sammy Kuffuor who is a member of the Black Stars management committee has urged Ghanaians to be measured in their criticisms of players.
” I will plead that we shouldn’t point fingers at any player or whoever did something wrong here. I will still insist that we find solutions to our problems”.
The former Black stars defender who was speaking to the press on Saturday in Doha added that instead of casting invectives and criticisms ” we should just take it easy with these young players that we call them. I can take the pressure, it is not everybody that can take the pressure. When I was playing I heard everything in Germany from critics here and there. I don’t care but it’s not everybody that has the heart “.
He continued, ” these are young ones so let’s hold them in high esteem. We should cherish them”.
After crashing out of the 2022 FIFA world cup, the Black Stars will now shift attention to the 2023 African cup of Nations qualifiers in March next year.
