Black Stars assistant coach John Paintsil has defended the growing trend of Ghana Premier League players moving abroad for more lucrative contracts. Recent notable transfers include Emmanuel Keyekeh, Richmond Lamptey, and Steven Mukwala, who have signed with clubs in Rwanda and Tanzania.

Paintsil, a former defender for Berekum Arsenal, emphasized that football is a business, and players should seize opportunities to advance their careers and financial prospects.

“Running football is a business, so if a young player has the opportunity to go, why not?” Paintsil said in an interview on Asempa FM. “It is just about doing the right thing. That’s why you don’t build a team around one or two players.”

He further explained that clubs need to adopt a broader strategy when building their squads, ensuring they have depth and flexibility to accommodate player transfers.

“You need to have a big squad if you really want to do business. A team in Europe can buy a 16-year-old player for a long-term contract,” he said. “The chairman or president, who is investing their money, needs to get a return. So I don’t think there’s a problem with that.”

Paintsil stressed the importance of a solid team structure to mitigate the impact of losing key players, advising against over-reliance on individual talents.

“When you are building a team, you need to build the structure well so that you have many players. Don’t build a team around one or two players,” Paintsil concluded.

His perspective highlights the balance between nurturing local talent and recognizing the economic realities of football, where players and clubs must navigate opportunities for growth and financial stability.