Sports Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye has taken charge of selection of players into the Black Stars by ordering coach Avram Grant to review his squad for next week’s clash against Rwanda.
According to a report of Happy FM and Asempa FM on Thursday, the Sports Minister has ordered the Israeli coach to use only home-based players for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The highly experienced former Chelsea coach named a 23-man squad that is dominated by foreign based players for the game against Rwanda even though the team has already sealed qualification for next year’s AFCON.
Wa All Stars goalie Richard Ofori and AshGold defender Kadiri Mohammed are the only home-based players in the team.
According to the reports the Minister is not happy with the number of home-based players in the team and has he is forced to twist the hands of the coach for more players plying their trade in Ghana.
There has been tension between the Football Association of Ghana the Ministry in recent times and this move could bring the already frosty relationship to an all time low.
The Minister has not hidden his intention to cut down on the expenses on the Black Stars and is reported to have told the GFA that there is no money to fly down the foreign based players for the game against Rwanda.
After this weekend club football will come to a halt and international football will take center stage.
Ghana could play Russia an international friendly immediately after the game against the Amauvibi early September.
This issue of using home-based players could however raise tension ahead of what is expected to be a walk in the Park for the Stars.
The GFA has been at loggerheads with the Minister since he took charge about four months ago and the federation sees his posturing as his long held ambition to take over the running of football in Ghana.
He was among the group of people belonging to the ruling NDC party in 2010 who were named as part of the cabal seeking to overthrow the GFA leadership through an illegal coup.
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