Former Black Stars and Kumasi Asante Kotoko goalkeeper, Joseph Carr, has implored Ghanaian football fans to offer their unflinching support to the Black Stars ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup rather than putting undue pressure on the technical team to press the panic button following their average performance during the two friendly matches against Brazil and Nicaragua last month.
He has also advised the head coach, Otto Addo, and his assistants to take bold decisions in their selection for matches with priority given to form than the reputation of players.
“I watched the two friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua, and what I realised was that while the Stars lost against Brazil as a result of panic by our players, and their desire to whitewash the Nicaragua team to make amends for their heavy loss against Brazil caused the Black Stars to squander numerous chances created,” Carr told the Graphic Sports in an exclusive interview.
“So far, we are on course so far as our preparations are concerned and I strongly believe that in case we meet Brazil again, or meet any top-ranked team, they cannot run over us as happened last month.”
He said that if the Black Stars were any ordinary team, they would have conceded more goals in the second half after going down 0-3 in the first half. However, the team managed to hold on to the Brazilians and matched them squarely in the second half.
He believes the manner in which the team lifted up their game in the second half was assuring that they would come up good in Qatar and not be the whipping boys as feared.
Commenting on the stiff opposition Ghana was likely to encounter against Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea, the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations winner said Ghana still had a bright chance to qualify from the group considering the team’s preparations so far and the quality of players available to Coach Otto Addo.
“I am certain that the coach has corrected all the mistakes he identified in the two friendly matches and is, therefore, poised to come out with a more creative, combative and competitive team against our opponents at the group stage.”
He advised Coach Addo to use a fine blend of experienced players and the talented youngsters in the team for good results, but added that the technical handlers must take bold decisions as far as selection was concerned.
“The coach should not hesitate to bench senior players if they do not live up to his expectation. This is the only way to get the players to give their best during the competition.”
“Instead of relying on senior players who may be out of form in such a high class competition, selection should be based purely on current performance to enable Ghana to excel in such an elite tournament”
“As many new players as possible who are in good form and have the competitive edge should be offered opportunity, and with such a positive approach, our team will not be found wanting,” said Carr, who won the 1983 African Champions League with Kotoko.
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