Frimpong Manso Raises Alarm Over Decline of Natural Strikers at U-17 Level
Head coach of Ghana’s U-17 national team, the Black Starlets, Frimpong Manso has voiced serious concern over the diminishing number of natural strikers in Ghana’s youth football.
The experienced tactician, who has been actively scouting young talent across the country in preparation for upcoming international assignments, says there is a noticeable shift in player preferences, with most young footballers now aspiring to play as wingers rather than strikers.
In an interview aired by Peace FM, Frimpong Manso said, “The position were all concentrated in the midfield. If you ask 8 out of 10 Ghanaian players, they will tell you they are midfielders. But now it is shifting to wingers.”
He attributed the trend to the influence of global football icons, notably Lionel Messi and others who have achieved legendary status playing in wide attacking roles.
“They all say, ‘I am a winger, I am a winger,’ because of Messi and others. It is influencing certain people, mostly youngsters,“ he explained.
However, the former Black Stars defender warned that this development could lead to a long-term shortage of centre-forwards in Ghanaian football, potentially weakening the attacking strength of future national teams.
“That position, you need certain qualities to say that you are a winger. That is where the problem is now. With strikers, it has decreased very much,” Manso noted.
His comments underline the growing concern among football coaches and talent developers about the need to guide young players into a more balanced distribution of roles on the pitch.
