Ashantigold SC head coach Bashir Hayford has accused Ghanaian clubs of inadequately preparing for African competitions.
Hayford will take his team to the second leg of the CAF champions league qualifiers against Algerian side MO Bejaia with a slim 1-0 advantage from the first leg. But the former Asante Kotoko trainer is not impressed with the preparations his team, as well as other Ghanaian clubs playing in Africa, has done going into the continental competitions.
“Let’s face facts. We (Ghanaian clubs) dont’ prepare well for Africa. When TP Mazembe wanted to annex the trophy, what did they do? They surveyed the whole Africa and signed the best players from there. They were even playing friendly matches with some European teams,” Hayford told Kumasi-based Ultimate FM.
No Ghanaian club has made the group stages of the CAF Champions league since Berekum Chelsea reached that stage in 2011. And Hayford said Chelsea could not have reached that stage if the owner had not invested heavily.
“Even in Ghana when Chelsea wanted to do well, Mr. Kyeremeh (the owner of Berekum Chelsea) bought players with big names all across the country and they did well. So if you’re going to play against teams like TP Mazembe who have bought players from all over the continent, and you’re also preparing with your local players, do you think you will do well?” Hayford quizzed.
Ashantigold trained twice at the Tema Astro Turf before flying out to Algeria via Turkey on Thursday night ahead of the game on Sunday.
