Foreign players will improve our league, but ... - Oti Akenten

Technical Director of Ghana Football Association, Francis Oti Akenteng has expressed his view on the much debated about the number of foreign players a Ghanaian club can register and play in a league game.

The rules and regulations of Ghana Football Association stipulates a team can register four (4) foreign players but only three can play in a competitive game (premier league, FA cup and Elite cup) in Ghana. Former national U-20 manager, Oti Akenteng was speaking on the issue after head coach of Ashgold, Bashiru Hayford had admitted the influx of foreign players into the local league will make the league more attractive and competitive just as the exodus of Ghanaian players who join African leagues are effecting them positively.

Oti Akenteng who recently led a group of coaches pass through the final face of their coaching CAF/GFA licensing coach course admitted he agreed to some extent the quota of foreign players is having negative effect on the league but does not believe it is a solution to the decline of the game.

He said, “I agree with coach Bashiru Hayford to an extent when he claims the foreign quota of players in the league should be increased but that can’t be the yardstick to justify our league failure.” He added, “he English premier league is the most attractive league in the world but can’t say same of the national team performance and that is the reason why I differ slightly with Bashiru Hayford. I will suggest to the premier league board (PLB) the number rather be increased to 5 or 6 to help develop our game.”