Former Youth and Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has launched a scathing critique of local players, questioning their ability to compete at international level and casting doubt on calls for their inclusion in the Black Stars.
In an interview with Citi Sports, the former minister did not hold back, taking aim at the standard of the domestic league and even singling out Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, despite acknowledging his talent.
“Even Benjamin Asare is a problem,” Vanderpuye said. “He may be the best goalkeeper in the country, but he lacks many things. Against Germany, he came out twice, and both situations were disasters.”
The former minister’s comments come amid persistent public debate over why few home-based players earn call-ups to the senior national team. While some football fans and analysts have pushed for greater representation from the Ghana Premier League, Vanderpuye dismissed the idea as unrealistic.
“When I hear calls to include local players, I sometimes laugh. How is it possible? They play like Colts players,” he said, referring to Ghana’s junior-level colts football, which is played by teenagers.
He challenged proponents of local inclusion to name even three players capable of commanding a starting role. “Who are these local players? The standard is poor. Name three who are good enough to start,” he added.
Vanderpuye, who served as Sports Minister under the Mahama administration and has remained an influential voice in Ghanaian football discourse, has previously been a supporter of local football development. His latest remarks, however, reflect deepening frustration with the quality emerging from the domestic league.
His comments are likely to reignite debate about the gap between the Ghana Premier League and the standards required for international competition, as the Black Stars prepare for upcoming assignments.
Efforts to reach representatives of the Ghana Football Association or Benjamin Asare for a response were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
