Former Ghana international Sam Johnson says some of the players invited by Black Stars coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor for the international friendlies possess the talent but are not ready to deal with the pressure that comes with playing the national team.
Ghana lost to Mali by 3-0 in CK Akonnor’s first game in charge of the Black Stars as head coach.
Akonnor’s starting line up in that game was dominated by the new players he invited which many believed led to Ghana’s humiliating defeat to Mali in that friendly game played at the Emir Sports Stadium, Antalya Turkey.
The performance of the team was criticized by the fans leading to CK Akonnor changing his starting line up in the game against Qatar on Monday where he made five changes.
According to Sam Johnson, most of the players invited by CK Akonnor for the two friendly games have the potential but most of them are not ready to contain with the pressure that comes with playing for the national team.
“The players have the potential but most of them are not ready to play for the national team. With time they can get there, but currently they are not ready.
“I don’t think this current crop of players will be able to endure and contain the pressure from we the fans”, he told Ohene-Bampoe Brenya on Happy Sports on Happy 98.9FM.
He also mentioned that there was no teamwork in the two games played by the team.
“We should play as a team, the individual play is too much, I don’t see any uniformity in the play. The players haven’t played together so that understanding is not there yet”.
The former Hearts of Oak defender also advised CK Akonnor to invite some of the experienced players back into the team ahead of next month AFCON qualifiers.