Ghanaian players don’t practice on their own after training sessions – JE Sarpong [GTV Sports+ The File]

JE Sarpong, the legendary Ghanaian trainer who discovered Asamoah Gyan during his schoolboy days, has hit out at Ghanaian football players for not taking their careers too seriously.

The experienced tactician, who is now in charge of Division One League side Akosombo Krystal Palace, has managed top players and top clubs in the country including giants Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, and Aduana Stars as well as Liberty Professionals.

Sarpong, popularly known by his monikers Sarpiro, has managed players like Prince Tagoe, Asamoah Gyan, Bernard Kumordzi, Emmanuel Osei Kufour, Adjetey Lee, and many others both at club level and national teams.

The 71-year-old trainer insists the bane of Ghanaian players is their refusal to take personal training seriously.

“Most Ghanaian players don’t take their personal training seriously. As a matter of fact, most don’t practice on their own at all after leaving the club’s training sessions. And, this is a major problem,” he told Kwame Dwomoh-Agyemang on GTV Sports+’s The File show.

Five-time FIFA Best Player of the Year award-winner Cristiano Ronaldo is an example of players who train extra and hard to keep themselves in shape all the time.

“There are these two Dutch footballers who in recent interviews revealed that they leave their cars with their girlfriends and jog from where they stay to the training grounds. After the general team sessions, these players stay behind and train extra period before boarding their cars back home,” he added.