“Gold Stars must brace themselves for tough CAF Champions League campaign” – Nurudeen

Experienced Ghana coach, Amadu Nurudeen has warned Ghana Premier League champions, Gold Stars to brace themselves for a tough continental campaign next season.

Gold Stars defied all odds to lift their maiden Ghana Premier League title last season – clocking 63 points, three better than second placed Heart of Lions after 34 matches.

They will represent Ghana in next term’s CAF Champions League and coach Nurudeen, who guided Samartex to the 2023/24 CAF Champions League journey, admits that the road will be tough.

“It’s going to be difficult because they have to beef up the team and one of the challenges is that some of the clubs in Ghana sometimes find it difficult to release their players to you for one reason or the other,” Amadu Nurudeen told Radio Gold.

“Either the money you are bringing is very insignificant or not enough so if you don’t get quality players to beef up the team, it’s going to be a problem and when you meet certain clubs that are well organized, well structured, that have good players definitely you will struggle.

“But if you are also lucky and you can maneuver your way through some of these West African countries, because anytime we meet the North African countries, they are ahead of us in terms of structures, in terms of finances and what have you and even the player quality.

“So they have to see how they can beef up the team.”

Gold Stars will play in the Champion of Champions against MTN FA Cup winners, Asante Kotoko and the GHALCA Top Four to rehearse for the domestic and continental journey ahead.