Africa Sports

Black Stars need determination, not names – Johnson Eklu

Former Ghana international Johnson Eklu has urged current Black Stars players to rekindle the determination that once defined the national team.

Reflecting on his time with Ghana’s U-17 squad, which reached the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Cup finals, Eklu emphasized the importance of playing with purpose. Ghana fell to Brazil 2-1 in the final, but Eklu’s goal against Bahrain remains a proud memory.

Speaking on the Ernest Brew Smith Show, Eklu lamented the current state of the Black Stars, who failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON. “It’s not about the name on the back of your jersey,” he remarked. “When we played, it was about making our families and nation proud.”

Eklu expressed concern over modern players prioritizing wealth over national pride. “The joy of signing big contracts is killing the hunger to fight for the nation,” he said. “During our time, we had the drive to win and not for money.. but for legacy.”

 

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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