Former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah has denied claims that locally-based players do not have the mental fortitude to play for the Black Stars.

The Black Stars assistant coach, Maxwell Konadu, stated in an interview with Starr Sports last year that home-based players lack the right mental fortitude to play for the Black Stars.

“I don’t believe anyone can say that the locally-based players don’t have the mentality. If they don’t become professionals, then how will you get professionals to play for the nation,” Appiah told Starr Sports.

“When I took over I took some of them to the Cup of Nations if you remember and when we came back they all turned into professionals. We need to make them feel big and psyche them to feel that they are like Messi,” he added.

Ghana head coach Avram Grant recently explained that there are very few talents to monitor in the local league since most of the top players are often sold after every season by club owners.