Otto Addo has spoken glowingly about players who challenge him to be better, insisting that strong-willed footballers are essential to building a winning team.
The 50-year-old made the remarks on Wednesday, February 19, while addressing students of the University of Ghana’s Department of Physical Education and Sports at the Rugby Stadium. The session formed part of a special colloquium held under the theme “Individual Player Development.”
Drawing from his experience in the dugout, Addo explained that he welcomes players who are bold enough to question decisions and demand higher standards. According to him, such personalities not only sharpen his thinking as a coach but also reflect the mentality required to succeed at the highest level.
“I always say that, and I tell it to the other coaches, if the player can see the problems, with me as coach, problems, I know that they will pick the opponent’s problems,” he said.
Addo emphasised that while discipline and balance remain important, he values footballers who show emotion, challenge authority constructively, and hate losing. In his view, those traits often separate average teams from truly competitive ones.
“So I like these players. Everything has to be in a certain range, but I like players who are going to challenge me, who are going to question me, or who are angry when they lose, because I know these are the players we need to win the game,” he added.
Looking back on his journey in management, he acknowledged that working with assertive players has been a learning curve that has ultimately strengthened him professionally.
“So, in my coaching career, actually, I think I learned my lesson,” he said.
The colloquium was organised to expose students to career pathways within the sports industry and inspire them to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
Addo is set to return to the touchline in March when Ghana’s Black Stars engage Austria and Germany in friendly matches as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
