Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston has called for greater involvement of past Black Stars legends in the national team, insisting the current squad lacks the leadership and character that defined Ghana's golden generation.
Speaking on the state of the Black Stars, Kingston questioned who among the current players is prepared to assume the leadership roles once occupied by iconic figures such as Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien and Samuel Kuffour.
"Who are the players who should stand up and say, 'I am the Stephen Appiah of this era. I will be your Michael Essien. I want to be your Samuel Kuffour'.? Do we have those? I don't see it in the team," Kingston said.
He believes the solution lies in bringing former Black Stars greats closer to the current squad, allowing them to mentor the players and pass on the winning mentality that helped Ghana achieve success on the international stage.
"They should bring them close to the team, give them the freedom to get close to the boys. They can instill that character, tell them stories, get close to them, be their friend and get into their heads. Seeing them can encourage the current players and help bring them to that level," he added.
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Kingston singled out Thomas Partey as the team's most influential figure, describing the midfielder as the Black Stars' most experienced player, whose impact is evident whenever he features.
"At the moment, Partey is the most senior player in the team. He plays football at the highest level, and anytime he's present, you can clearly see the difference. But one thing we should know is that he can't do everything alone."
According to Kingston, the Arsenal midfielder often appears frustrated because he is not surrounded by enough quality and experienced leaders capable of sharing the responsibility on the pitch.
"I look at him and say this guy is frustrated because the way he wants the game to go, he's not getting the quality he needs around him. At the moment, we don't have that character," Kingston added
PAH/JKB
"Anytime he's present you can clearly see the difference but one thing we should know... he can't do it alone."
— Michael Oti Adjei (@OtiAdjei) July 29, 2026
- Laryea Kingston on Thomas Partey and the lack of leadership in the Black Stars.
Watch the full interview on YouTube here: https://t.co/QItg1Kj3rc… pic.twitter.com/fl486DYn19
