Clubs must invest in academies — Coach Lutterodt

Local Black Stars assistant coach Alhaji Dauda Solomon Lutterodt, has suggested to officials of Premier league clubs to make establishment of youth development academies a priority, noting that it was the only way to build consistency and continuity in a club.

He further argued that academies helped to unearth and groomed talented players who would eventually grow with the style of play, culture and history of the club for sustenance.

The former Accra Hearts of Oak and Accra Great Olympics coach contended that the huge sums of money used by clubs to recruit players who came only to warm benches could be used to groom about five players in an academy to become matured within two seasons.

“It is important for every Premier League club to have a youth system because it’s the best way to sustain a club. It is happening in Europe and everywhere.

"Recently, Manchester United have come out with some new and youthful players who have been in the background and now they are growing into maturity. It is better than going to the market to buy players who only come to warm the bench,” he explained.

Coach Lutterodt, who once handled Hearts Under-17 side, said it was prudent to recruit only a few players to fill specific positions in the team but not depending completely on players outside at the expense of youthful talents who would mature to continue the success story of the club.

He also urged leadership of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to re-introduce the reserve side game to give opportunity to players who are often not used in a game to also get some playing time before the actual games are commenced.