Former Ghana under-17 youth star Bashiru Gambo says the current Black Starlets team has a lot of promise but they boys are not playing as a team.
Ghana have won one out of their two opening games and have looked unconvincing in the tournament after struggling to beat Colombia and suffering a 1-0 defeat to the United States,
A lot of footballing fans have blamed the poor showing on individualistic play with others pointing out the players are trying to impress scouts.
However, the 1995 FIFA under-17 World opined that, the talent is available but the team play is virtually absent.
“Same goes to their captain [Eric] Ayiah, he needs to gather his teammates and ask them their purpose of playing in the tournament, what do Ghanaians expect from them at the end of the competition, and also let them understand that they shouldn’t think about playing to earn contract abroad,” Gambo said in an interview.
“I believe if coach Fabin or Ayiah ask them these questions, the boys will rethink about the position they find themselves in and give off their best against India and in the subsequent games. The talent is there but they’re not playing as a team and that cost us in the last game against USA.
The Black Starlets face host India on Thursday needing a win to progress. Bashiru Gambo indicated the team should be weary of the threat posed by the Indians.
“India is not a country that Ghana should be afraid of in terms of playing football. On paper, the score line should 5-0 or 6-0 in favour of Ghana but football has evolved and there are no minnows, hence we should not underrate them.
“In their first match against USA, they were poor but they shook the footballing world with their performance in the loss against Colombia so we should be very cautious and take serious.”
The two times Champions are seeking to win Ghana’s third World at the U-17 level since Bashiru Gambo and his teammates won the title in 1995.
By Lukman Evergreen Mumin