I have been convinced to play for Ghana but I won’t, I prefer Spain – Inaki Williams opens up on why he won’t play for Ghana

Inaki Williams, a professional footballer has stated his unequivocal decision to play for Spain despite talks to convince him to play for the Black Stars of Ghana.

Although the Atletic Bilbao player was born and raised in Spain, his parents hail from Accra, Ghana which makes him eligible to play for the Black Stars.

After several years of attempts by coaches of the Black Stars and the Ghana Football Association to convince Inaki Williams to play for the Black Stars, the player has opened up about why he can’t and will not play for Ghana.

In a conversation with the Guardian, Inaki Williams said he appreciated the fact that he has Ghanaian lineage and all that but he is convinced beyond all reasonable doubts that he prefers to play for the Spanish national team to Ghana.

“I’m grateful to where I grew and became who I am. Ghana tried to convince me, but I was born in Spain, in Bilbao.

I won’t ever forget my family roots, but I feel Basque and can’t con anyone. I would be comfortable with Ghana, I’m sure, but I shouldn’t be there.

”And my mum knows how people live football there: it’s quite something, and she’d be worried about me,” he said.

The 27-year-old added that the cultural disparity between Ghana and Spain is the reason he has opted not to play for the Black Stars. According to him, the opportunity to play for Ghana should be given to other players who feel more Ghanaian than he does.

”I admire and love Ghana, the culture, food, tradition. My parents are from Accra and I really enjoy going.

But I wasn’t born or raised there, my culture’s here, and there are players for whom it would mean more. I don’t think it would be right to take the place of someone who really deserves to go and who feels Ghana 100%.”

Inaki Williams made his debut for Spain in 2016 in a 3-1 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

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