Black Stars players deny reports they want Grant delayed for Konadu

The Black Stars have denied reports that they have asked the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to leave stand-in coach Maxwell Konadu in charge of the squad until after the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in two months time.

A report in the local media claimed that the Black Stars, led by Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew, have laid a petition before the GFA hierarchy asking the federation to delay the appointment of Avram Grant as the substantive coach of the side.

According to the report, even though they are excited about Grant’s imminent appointment, they would want the Israeli head coach to take over the team after the 2015 African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea.

The report claimed that the players feel that the timing between now and the competition, which will kick off on January 17, is too short for Grant to have a major impact and since Maxwell Konadu would have taken them through four qualifying games, it would be better for him to stay in charge, at least until after the tournament.

However, Gyan, who is the captain of the Black Stars, told the post match press conference after Ghana’s 3-1 win over Togo said the players are not interested in choosing the coach of the team.

“I am part of the playing body. I am not the right person to choose the coach. It is the job of the GFA and the people up there to choose the coach. I am not the one to choose coaches,” Gyan said.

“We are ready to work with anybody at all.

“We have just qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in a very difficult time. Coach (Konadu) has done a tremendous job to take us to the Africa Cup of Nations. No doubt about that.

“But as I said earlier I am not the one to choose coaches. I am part of the playing body and any coach who comes we are ready to work with the person.”

Konadu is set to revert to his position as the assistant coach of the side as the team prepares for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.