Chris Hughton has provided an explanation for his decision to not include any local players in the Black Stars team since assuming his role as coach.S
ince assuming the role in March, Hughton has assembled two squads. In his first selection, he did not include any players from the Ghana Premier League, although this was prior to his vigilant observation of the league.
Hughton's presence at various league venues generated expectations that he would summon at least one player for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Madagascar.
Nevertheless, the ex-Brighton and Norwich manager recently unveiled a squad of 24 players, and to everyone's surprise, no local players were featured. Despite certain players being sidelined due to injuries, Hughton has opted to fill the vacancies with foreign-based players.
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Hughton recently provided an explanation for his decision in a video released by KB TV on YouTube. He stated that during his time in charge, he had observed most of the teams and was currently in the process of familiarizing himself with the league as a whole, including assessing the level of the league and its top players. Rather than focusing solely on individual players, Hughton emphasized the importance of maintaining balance within the squad. He expressed his openness to considering local talents but emphasized that the current focus was on the upcoming game and the significance of each match for the Black Stars.
Hughton further explained that the team was striving to strike the right balance by maintaining the consistency they had achieved so far. With a considerable number of players based in Europe, some of whom may not have had much playing time, Hughton recognized the need to carefully manage the squad's composition.
Looking ahead, Hughton's goal is to secure a positive result in the upcoming match against Madagascar on June 18, which would ensure qualification for the next Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.