‘You’ve disappointed the local players’ – Sam Johnson SLAMS Augustine Okrah for turning down Black Stars call-up

Former Ghana defender Sam Johnson has chided Bechem United forward Augustine Okrah after the latter reportedly rejected an invitation by Otto Addo to participate in the Kirin Tournament in Japan.

The former Asante Kotoko winger was dropped from the Black Stars squad that traveled to Angola for the second match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification series against Central Africa Republic, a game that ended 1-1.

If proven true, then Okrah obviously deems the Japan Tournament not important for him to jump onto the plane to join the Black Stars but Sam Johnson has some strong words for Okrah.

“This is the time the coach could have given him the chance to play at the tournament for him to prove him wrong.He should have honoured the call up and prove the coach wrong that he is better than the players he took to Angola for the CAR game.

“Everyone have been campaigning for local players inclusion in the Black Stars squad so if after all the campaign and you decline a call up despite being dropped from the squad earlier, I think he has disappointed the local players and I hope and pray his attitude will not affect local players call up in the future.”

The Kirin Cup is an association football tournament organised in Japan by the Kirin Brewery Company. The host, Japan, is a participant in every edition. The tournament was founded in 1978 then known as Japan Cup (International competition which national teams and clubs participated in), and was last held in its full form in 2016.

The 2022 Kirin Cup is scheduled to be the 21st edition of the international friendly football tournament which will played in Japan between 10 and 14 June with the participation of four teams: Japan, Chile, Ghana and Tunisia.

-Sportsworldghana