Blackstars' Coach Gone AWOL

Black stars expatriate coach Millan Zivadinovic left Accra some weeks ago for Turkey, Greece and other parts of Europe purposely to monitor the performance of Ghanaian foreign-based professionals whom he never had the chance to assess when they were on holidays.

But news filtering in indicates that the stars’ coach’s whereabouts remains a mystery to the Ghana Football Association. Insider sources say all efforts to locate him have proved unsuccessful, notwithstanding, frantic efforts are still underway to locate him and this unfortunate development has made some members at the apex of the local soccer governing body the GFA restless.

Reports say when Millan left Accra he has never been to the designated destination and is believe to be in his homeland Yugoslavia. Further investigations revealed that Mr. Zivadinovic has not yet contacted any of the Ghanaian players or their clubs in Turkey, Greece, or Germany.

Meanwhile, this reporter learnt that the stars’ coach would be back on August 4th 2002 and plunge into training with a local squad forming the nucleus of the Black Stars. But with his whereabouts becoming indistinct there are doubts about his return on the said date.

When this reporter contacted the Welfare Officer of the stars, he said, “we have not heard from the coach.”

F.A capo Ben Koufie himself does not know as at the time of filing this reporter, the whereabouts of the coach. He told this reporter when contacted that, he does not know where the coach is.

Mr. Zivadinovic was contracted by the FA to prepare the senior national team for the 2004 Nations’ Cup, the Olympics game and the next World Cup.

Meanwhile, the locally-based players forming the nucleus of the Black Stars are expected to begin serious training and if possible play some friendly matches before meeting Hassan Mibiriu cranes of Uganda in the nations cup qualifier for Tunisia 2004.

GOALKEEPERS Sammy Adjei, James Nanor, (Hearts) Osei Boateng (Kotoko) and Isaac Amoako (B.A. United). Others are Princeton Owusu Ansah, Solomon Laryea (Goldfields) Joe Hendericks, Hamza Mohammed, Nana Arhin Duah (Kotoko) Edward Sosu (Power F.C.) Felix Yeboah, Abdul Mutalib (Hasaacas) Agbadu Kasami, Alex Kyeremanteng (R.T.U.) Alfred Darko, John Paintsil, Daniel Yeboah, Jonathan Quartey (Liberty) Iddrisu Yahaya and Stephen Debrah (Faisal).

The rest are Paa Joe Kummah (Olympics) Mohammed Polo (Dawu) Asare Nyarko (Okwahu)