By Edna A. Quansah
Accra, Nov. 15, GNA – Former Black Stars player, Mohammed Polo says the senior national team must play as a team to achieve its target at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha, Qatar.
He has, therefore, charged the players to eschew selfishness as that would be detrimental to the overall team’s performance at the Mundial.
Coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo released a final 26-man squad for the global showpiece, with the ambition to at least qualify out of the group.
Ghana is in the same group as two-time champions Uruguay, 2016 European champions Portugal, and South Korea, and would commence the battle against Portugal on Thursday, November 24.
Speaking to the GNA Sports on Tuesday, Polo urged the players to listen to instructions from the coach and play as a team from defence to attack to take off pressure from the goalkeeper in post.
“I hope they go past the group stage. The players should listen to the coach’s instructions. There is no pressure on the team and they have to play to prove themselves. They should play as a team, help each other to take the pressure off the goalkeeper.”
On the squad, he expressed disappointment that Ghana’s number goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott, and Orlando Pirate’s shot-stopper Richard Ofori, missed a spot in the squad due to recent injuries they picked at the club level.
He was also surprised Jeffery Schlupp and Joseph Paintsil were not invited despite their impressive performance at the club level this season.
However, he believes it was an opportunity for the selected goalkeepers and players to prove their capabilities to the world.
The world cup would start on Sunday, November 20, and end on December 18.
GNA