Kumasi, Dec 16, GNA - A former member of the Black Stars, Ernest Joe de-Graft has urged the technical handlers of the team to ensure that selection of players for the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup is based strictly on performance. He said favouritism, stature or names must not be allowed to influence decisions they make.

Ghana is endowed with many talented players whom, he said, could prove equal to the task on the big stage, when given the chance.

Joe de-Graft, now 72, was part of the national side that won the Nations Cup for the first time in 1963, in Accra.

He was the reserved goalkeeper and played for Kumasi Cornerstone. Joe de-Graft who was sharing his views with GNA Sports in Kumasi on the Stars' chances in the upcoming Nation's Cup tournament to be hosted by Angola commended the Stars Coach, Milovan Rajevac for his recent European tour to look for potential new players he might invite to beef up the national side.

He appealed to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to give the technical team the necessary support.

The former player described Ghana's group at the Nations Cup, comprising Burkina

Faso, Togo and Cote d'Ivoire as tough, and cautioned that no country should be underrated. "I expect the Stars to go into the tournament very hungry for honours and to fight like

wounded lions." Touching on the World Cup, the former Stars keeper predicted a difficult tournament for

the team, saying the likes of Germany, Australia and Serbia who are grouped with Ghana are

experienced opponents. Joe de-Graft said having performed well in their maiden World Cup appearance in

Germany 2006, the expectation is that the Stars are going to be a force to reckon with and it

was against this background that all hands should be on deck to ensure success for the Stars. He is currently the technical adviser to Owerriman F/C, a Division Two side, at Konongo. 16 Dec. 09