I commend the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Black Stars management committee for providing the platform for Wednesday’s media engagement. This should be the practice or standard as it widens the space for proper conversations on the team.

Tournament rules may not always allow such media interaction, but this must be extended to when the team treks to competitions. The media want interactivity not just to feed their audience but to also inform Black Stars fans. 

Otto Addo was his natural self. His attempt at speaking Twi in one of the answers was fine humour. He seemed sincere in his responses on Dede Ayew, the standard of the Ghana Premier League, Baba Rahman, Cullum Hudson-Odoi, Frederick Asare, and his excitement to be back.

The line-by-line explanation of why certain players were not called, detailing their injury situation was clever. Such elaborate clarity kills needless speculation. In any case, all that can be verified. That he could not make promises may have been a downside but why would the man do that knowing the team he is picking up?

Judge-me-by how-we-play comment was the safest route to avoiding definite commitment. The key takeaway from Otto Addo’s talk for me was his references to team culture, habits, and work ethic. To me, these will define the success of the new Black Stars and not so much about who he calls or does not call.

Granted there is a pool of talented players, but we cannot ensure proper team ethos, we might as well forget about winning anything because, for all the teams we love to cite or admire, there is a characteristic culture they have, manifestly evident when they travel, camp, train, or play. Black Stars have lacked that. I hope Otto’s tenure sees a change.

Finally, on the question I asked, it was clear that Otto Addo does not know the Ghana football DNA launched by the GFA last year. He is pardoned. All the same, it was a nice media event. I hope we all build on the experience for a better Black Stars.