I Don’t Understand Why Black Stars Players Don’t Play With Passion Like They Do At Their Clubs – Samuel Inkoom

In a forthright and critical assessment, former Black Stars defender Samuel Inkoom has stated his shock over the apparent lack of enthusiasm shown by the national team, querying why players fail to duplicate the zeal seen at their individual club levels.

The Black Stars suffered heavy criticism from supporters following disappointing performances in two recent friendly matches against the USA and Mexico during the September international break, with many casting fingers at coach Chris Hughton. However, Inkoom thinks that the players themselves should take a substantial share of the blame for the team’s dismal showing.

“We are going to a tournament. Let’s say we play against Asante Kotoko or Hearts of Oak and we beat them 10-0. Everybody will say we have a team, but you see the kind of friendly games he played against the USA? We all saw it. We feel that there is an issue in the team, not just the coach; the players also have to change their thinking. The moment you are called to play in the national colors, it is not simply you again,” Inkoom told Citi FM.
“You are defending the Ghana national team; you are defending the motherland. Some of the players, okay, they can make you sack the coach just like that because of what he is not playing, maybe this or that he is not talking about. My concern is that outside the pitch, they have to foster team spirit.

“Building the team spirit means you have to talk to each other; don’t think ok; it is the national team. I am lucky I was called. We should put too much pressure on the coach. Only we have good players. We have quality players that if they are playing in their club side, you can witness what they can do. So why the national team? They don’t want to bring the same passion they are using to play in their various clubs.”