Black Stars assistant trainer Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has jumped to the defence of under-fire goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi.
The St. Gallen shot-stopper was subjected to scathing public criticism following his recent performances in between the sticks for the four-time AFCON champions.
Ati-Zigi’s show in Ghana’s 4-1 reverse at the hands of Japan’s Blue Samurai at the Kirin Cup opened the talking points about him as fans questioned his quality.
The 25-year-old has just a clean sheet in 8 appearances for the West African giants. In his 8 appearances for the Black Stars, he has picked the ball from his net 13 times.
Despite putting up a string of uninspiring performances, the assistant trainer has jumped to his defence.
“Nothing happened to him. He was one of our best keys in the game. Nothing happened to him, he was in good form and the fact that we didn’t use him in the second game has nothing to do with that game. I am telling you that there was nothing he did that you will say his decisions are questionable. He was in his best form. He made a lot of good positions and good saves. In terms of the first half, there were so many positives. I am not in an interview to decide on who did what, no. We are in a team-building process and we are supposed to create opportunities for players to be able to get out and give out their best but I think that he was a good point in the first game,” the former Asante Kotoko trainer told Ghana Sports Page.
He is currently competing for a place in the Black Stars squad alongside Richard Ofori, Jojo Wollacott, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, and Danlad Ibrahim. Meanwhile, local talent watchers have proposed Bechem United goalkeeper Abdulai Iddrisu to the national selectors.