Stars’ 30-man squad out Monday

Black Stars coach, Kwasi Appiah is holding close to his chest the names of his 30-man provisional World Cup squad until he officially releases it on Monday. But even as he keeps his players and the nation in suspense, the coach maintains the squad will not have any surprises.

Coach Appiah told the Graphic Sports yesterday that he would not be pushed into releasing his list earlier than the May 12 date he had set and that his list would be made up of players committed to play. 

The coach, for the second time in as many weeks, dismissed a povisional World Cup squad purported to have been leaked to the media, insisting he would only make the authentic squad public on Monday.

“Until Monday, any list making the rounds is pure speculation. I have not named any team and I don’t know what will be a surprise or disappointment.  I have always maintained that every player who has a club, has had the opportunity to train or play with the cub and available for national duty is qualified for a Stars call up.

“I have monitored all the players I want to check out and I am happy with what I have seen. The second round of the European leagues have been good for the players and thankfully, there are also no major injury worries and all that are good signs for us,” Coach Appiah indicated.

Asked if his team would feature any local players, Coach Appiah refused to drop any hint about the composition of the team, stressing a meeting would be held with his assistant, Maxwell Konadu, over the weekend, then meet with the Stars’ management committee on Monday morning before the list is released in the afternoon.

 “After the number of players featured in the qualifiers, most people have a fair idea who could be in the team, what is uncertain are those who will make up the number for the provisional 30,” Appiah stressed.