Accra: Former Black Stars defender, Samuel Osei Kuffuor, has raised a thought-provoking question on whether Ghanaian parents residing abroad would allow their sons, if they had the talent of Jude Bellingham, to represent Ghana in international football or opt for England.
According to Ghana Web, Kuffuor posed this scenario during an interview with 3Sports, highlighting a situation where a Ghanaian child, raised in Europe, grows to achieve the status of a superstar footballer. Kuffuor illustrated that when a player reaches the caliber of Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, the decision to play for Ghana or England often favors the latter, leaving Ghana at a disadvantage. He questioned, "As a Ghanaian parent, you're based in Europe and your son is playing so well. If your son is Jude Bellingham, with both parents from Ghana, will you allow him to play for Ghana or England?"
The former Bayern Munich star elaborated on the issue, expressing that Ghana frequently becomes a secondary choice for players with dual nationality, a reality he believes the public must accept. Kuffuor emphasized that the only way to counteract this challenge is for football authorities to engage such players at a young age to secure their commitment to Ghana.
He further explained that players like Jeremy Doku of Belgium and Jeremie Frimpong of the Netherlands might have played for the Black Stars if they were approached earlier. Kuffuor remarked, "Because whether we like it or not, we are second choice. That's what people have to understand. If we had gotten Doku, Frimpong, and all those players when they were young, they would have played for Ghana. That's why I'm saying we need offices in Europe to identify and recruit them early."