Hearts of Oak legend Bernard Don Bortey says the Ghana Premier League's quality hasn't dipped, but the current crop is holding back.
Ghana football has a new debate on its hands, and a Hearts of Oak icon is right in the middle of it. Bernard Don Bortey, one of the most recognisable names in the history of the Ghana Premier League, insists the standard of players in the 2026/27 campaign is no worse than it was in his era.
Speaking on Akoma FM, the retired star pointed the finger at mentality rather than ability. In his view, the gap between yesterday's players and today's is not about talent. It is about appetite. He believes the current generation is reluctant to push harder and chase the next level of their careers.
Don Bortey knows the league well. He spent nine years at Hearts of Oak, from 2001 to 2010, where he built his reputation, and later turned out for Aduana FC, New Edubiase and Great Olympics. That résumé has earned him legend status not only in the domestic league but across Ghanaian football.
His take cuts against a popular view among fans and followers, many of whom argue the GPL is short on quality. Don Bortey is not buying it. For him, the ingredients are all there, and what is missing is the hunger to go beyond comfort. Whether the current crop answers that challenge on the pitch remains the story to watch as the season unfolds.
