Black Meteors coach Desmond Ofei shrugs off claims he ignores the Ghana Premier League, pointing to a scouting network that goes well beyond the stands.
Ghana's U-23 boss has answered his critics head-on. Desmond Ofei, the new Black Meteors head coach, has rejected suggestions that he stays away from Ghana Premier League venues, insisting his setup scouts home-based talent in several ways and that being seen in the stands is not the measure of commitment.
Ofei, who recently stepped into the Meteors job after serving as an assistant with the Black Stars, spoke after watching Hearts of Oak edge Holy Stars 1-0 on Friday. His message was blunt: he goes to games, but he is not interested in making a show of it. "Everybody has an opinion in football," he said, adding that he has no need to announce himself when he turns up at a match.
The remarks follow criticism from FC Samartex General Manager Edmund Ackah, who questioned whether Ofei is the right man for the role. Ackah raised concerns about the coach's dedication to the domestic league, his familiarity with local players and the chances being given to home-based talents.
Ofei responded by pointing to the depth of the staff around him. He stressed that he is not the only voice in the technical team, naming Yaw Preko and Mallam Nuhu as colleagues who are active in the process, and noted that the Ghana Football Association already has scouts working on the team's behalf. Video analysis is also part of the toolkit, he explained, and the group has done enough work to identify players who can strengthen the squad.
For Ghanaian fans, the debate speaks to a familiar tension: how much national team selection should lean on the local league. With the Meteors project just beginning, Ofei will be judged less on his match-day appearances and more on the players he picks and the results they deliver.
