Avram Grant's agent in veiled attack on complaints

Avram Grant's agent has launched a veiled attack on those complaining over the Black Stars coach's long absence from Ghana insisting the manager is working in the interest of the country

Saif Rubie says while the former Chelsea manager is working, there is a lot of talk from people - implying the cries in Ghana over the coach's absence from the country since December.

Grant was ordered to return to the country by the local football association on Tuesday to concentrate on his job of monitoring players from the local league after spending three months in Europe.

The GFA feels Grant should be watching local football matches to unearth talent from the country's competitions in the country too apart from those plying their trade outside.

Several top government officials, former footballers and administrators have all joined the call to have the coach return to the country to work.

One parliamentarian, Kojo Baah Agyemang, said the former Chelsea and West Ham manager had been “taking the nation for granted”, telling a radio station it was unacceptable to spend his time out of the of country.

But Rubie, the agent of the coach, seems to have hit back by tweeting: "People talking, Avram working," accompanied with a picture of the manager visiting midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah this week during a match for the Italian side Juventus in Milan.

Grant is not the first manager of an African national side to be criticised for spending time in Europe, and many defend their stays on the grounds that it allows them to easily monitor Ghanaian players based there.

Several national players are with Premier League sides, including the Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman, Swansea star Andre Ayew, his brother Jordan of Aston Villa and Leicester’s Daniel Amartey.

Grant took over as Ghana coach in late 2014 and within months led the Black Stars to a place in the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Cup where they lost to Ivory Coast on penalties.

People talking, Avram working. Great to catch up with @EdoCrn and @Asabob20 in Italy. #monitoring #players #ghana pic.twitter.com/rH5CcM8SlU

— Saif Rubie (@saifpr) March 4, 2016