Former Ghana defender John Paintsil waded into the argument of why ace midfielder Mubarak Wakaso was not handed a call-up by coach CK Akonnor for the Black Stars’ friendly against Mali in Turkey next month.
Wakaso who currently plays for Jiangsu Suning in the Chinese Super League was absent in coach Akonnor 23-man squad for the friendly.
https://twitter.com/WakasoBobby/status/1309505291906506752
Many football fanatics and the media have since questioned his absence from the team especially when he is actively playing in China since the start of the new season.
”For me, I think there’s something we need to change a little with regard to our national call-ups. When the head coach is naming his squad there has to be a press conference so that the media can get the opportunity to ask why certain players are missing and report to the public the way it was discussed at the press,” Painstil told Hello FM in Kumasi.
”Wakaso is a key player in the team so there is no way the coach will not speak to him before releasing the list.
”With the experience I have, I know that the two of them have talked about it and Wakaso has agreed to reasons why he is not in the team because he is not injured. The coach knows he’s performing as well.
”Unless he’s not in the plans of the coach or the coach wants to look at new players since it’s a friendly match because Wakaso is a senior player.
”There are some matches the coaches give respect to certain players by telling them they want to try different players at their positions so that in case they are not around they will quickly fit in.
”I think they might have discussed something like these that is why he’s not in the team.” the former Fulham defender concluded.
