Former Ghana midfielder Nii Odartey Lamptey says he is owed eight months’ salary by Ghana Premier League side Eleven Wonders and has warned that poor treatment of local coaches is undermining the country’s football development.
Lamptey, a former Black Stars playmaker who also starred for Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, confirmed he has taken the club to court over the unpaid wages and used the dispute to highlight what he sees as a wider crisis in coaching welfare in Ghana.
“Eleven Wonders owes me eight months’ salary, and we are in court over it,” he said in an interview with Accra-based Asempa FM.
The 49-year-old argued that inadequate pay and poor conditions are preventing Ghanaian coaches from upgrading their skills and keeping pace with the demands of the modern game.
“During our time, the players were very good, so the coaches only added a little. But today, how can coaches upgrade themselves without being paid?” he asked.
Legal battle shines light on coaching conditions
Lamptey’s revelation about his ongoing legal case has intensified scrutiny over the financial stability of some Ghanaian clubs and their obligations to technical staff.
Eleven Wonders, who have competed in the Ghana Premier League in recent seasons, have not publicly commented on the claim. Lamptey did not disclose further legal details but indicated the matter is now before the courts, suggesting an extended dispute rather than a short-term administrative delay.
By linking his personal case to the treatment of coaches nationally, Lamptey framed the issue as part of a structural problem in Ghana football, where coaching contracts can be poorly enforced and salaries delayed or withheld.
‘How can coaches grow without support?’
Lamptey contrasted the era in which he played – when, he said, there was a larger pool of naturally gifted footballers – with the current game, which he believes requires far more systematic work from coaches at all levels.
He argued that in today’s football, coaches need regular refresher courses, modern tactical education and exposure to international best practice. Without reliable income and proper welfare, he insists, many are unable to invest in their own professional development.
The former Black Stars midfielder said that while the demands on coaches have increased, their compensation and support structures have not kept pace.
He urged clubs and the Ghana Football Association to recognise that coaching is a specialist profession requiring sustained investment, not an afterthought in club budgeting.
Call for systemic investment in coaching
Lamptey stressed that improving the welfare of coaches must be central to any long-term plan to strengthen Ghanaian football.
He believes that if coaches are better paid and more secure in their jobs, they will be able to dedicate themselves fully to nurturing young players, improving tactical standards and maintaining Ghana’s competitiveness on the international stage.
He called for:
– Better and more consistent remuneration for coaches
– Support for continuous professional development and coaching courses
– Stronger contractual protections to prevent salary disputes
Lamptey argued that alongside talent identification and youth academies, serious investment in coaching education and welfare is essential if Ghana is to build a sustainable football structure capable of producing future generations of stars.
While his own case with Eleven Wonders remains unresolved in court, Lamptey’s intervention adds to growing debate within Ghana about how local coaches are treated – and whether the country is doing enough to support those tasked with developing its footballing future.
