Former Ghana international Augustine Arhinful has warned that the failure to pay coaches of the country’s junior national teams could leave them vulnerable to improper influence over player selection.
Arhinful says the Ghana Football Association (GFA) must improve the working conditions of local coaches and allow them greater independence to develop young players for the senior national team.
Speaking on Ahenfie FM, the former striker criticised what he described as the micromanagement of coaches at the junior level, warning that weaknesses in youth development could undermine the future of Ghanaian football.
“Local coaches have to position themselves well. That’s why we say the coaches are being micro-managed, especially the junior national teams. If we don’t get it right from there, we won’t get it right at the top,” he said.
Arhinful also questioned the disparity between the remuneration of the Black Stars’ technical team and that of coaches responsible for developing players at the junior level.
He claimed that while the Black Stars head coach and his assistant receive salaries, local coaches appointed to junior national teams often work without being paid.
“Have you heard that a local coach in charge of any of our national teams has been paid before? The Black Stars coach and the assistant are paid, but where the development of the players begins to reach the senior level, they are not being paid. It’s like we are doing them a favour,” he added.
The former international warned that failing to remunerate youth coaches could expose player selection to undue influence from individuals seeking opportunities for particular players.
Drawing on his experience as a committee member, Arhinful said he had witnessed situations that raised concerns about the potential consequences of leaving coaches unpaid. However, he cautioned against suggesting that such practices were widespread.
“If we don’t pay coaches, they can be influenced because I’ve seen this happen before as a committee member. But I can’t generalise it as the norm,” he said.
He explained that financial pressures could make an unpaid coach susceptible to offers from individuals seeking to secure places for their preferred players.
“In such instances, someone can bring his player to the coach for selection, and because he hasn’t been paid, he will take the player after taking an amount from the person. That’s all I’m trying to say,” he said.
Arhinful stressed that addressing the issue was particularly important at the junior level, where players begin their journey towards potentially representing the Black Stars.
He believes better working conditions, timely payment and greater independence for coaches would strengthen accountability and help ensure that selection decisions are based on merit.
The former Ghana international said tackling these challenges at the youth level was essential to building a stronger senior national team.
“If we can correct these little things, then we can be able to tell which player qualified to play in the Black Stars,” he concluded.
