Saddick Adams (L) and Dr Kofi Amoah (R)
The maiden Black Stars call-up of Prince Owusu, the 20-year-old midfielder from Medeama SC, has sparked a passionate online debate between veteran sports journalist Saddick Adams and Dr Kofi Amoah, the Chairman of the GFA Normalization Committee.
Prince Owusu’s rise has been truly remarkable. Just two years ago, he was playing high school football at Asanteman Senior High School.
In the 2024/25 season, he appeared in 22 Ghana Premier League matches, scoring once and providing two assists.
His consistency this season finally caught the attention of Otto Addo’s technical team, culminating in his first senior national team invitation.
Meet the new boys in Black Stars squad for CAR and Comoros games
As images of Owusu’s arrival at the Black Stars’ camp surfaced online, Saddick Adams used the moment to highlight how football can completely change a young player’s fortunes.
To him, Owusu’s journey from high school football to the national team in under two years symbolized hope and proof that the sport remains one of the world’s most powerful ladders out of poverty.
“Football offers the fastest way to escape poverty than any job I know.
“In 2022/2023, he was playing for Asanteman High School. If he gets one decent outing in the two games, his value could shoot from €75k to €750k,” Saddick tweeted.
But his optimism didn’t sit well with Dr Kofi Amoah, the Chairman of the GFA Normalization Committee known for his outspoken views on youth developments.
He argued that Saddick’s message, though well-intentioned, could dangerously mislead the masses of unemployed and unskilled youth into banking their future solely on football.
“Really, Saddick? Really? You may want to expand on this a bit broader, the mass of the illiterate, skill-less youth must not be enticed with a highly improbable outcome in football.”
“Stay in school, young man. Learn a trade, for the AI world unfolding would swallow the unprepared. Escape poverty enlightened; shun affluence in ignorance,” Dr Amoah replied.
While Saddick’s post celebrated football as a genuine path to financial liberation, Dr Amoah’s caution underscored the harsh reality that for every player who makes it, thousands never do.
Their exchange has since divided opinion online, with some fans defending football’s power to change lives, citing success stories like Kudus Mohammed and Mohammed Salisu, while others echoed Dr Amoah’s warning that education and skill acquisition remain the safest long-term path.
Really Saddick? Really??
You may want to expand on this a bit broader for the mass of the illiterate, skill-less youth must not be enticed with a highly improbable outcome in football
STAY IN SCHOOL YOUNG MAN, LEARN A TRADE FOR THE AI WORLD UNFOLDING
WOULD SWALLOW THE… https://t.co/gC6Zslrmcr— CitizenKofi (@amoah_citizen) October 6, 2025
FKA/JE
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