Complacency could cost the Satellites - Coach Afranie

Kumasi, Sept. 28, GNA - Coach Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie, former Technical Head of the National Under-20 Team, the Black Satellites has observed that complacency was a major factor that could prevent the team from emerging champions in the ongoing FIFA Under-20 World Cup Tournament in Egypt.

He said some of the key players having tasted top-flight football with the senior national team, the Black Stars and other top European clubs, might be tempted to underestimate their opponents. Speaking to GNA Sports in Kumasi at the weekend, Coach Afranie said that such a mentality could give an advantage to opposing teams to surprise the Satellites.

Coach Afranie was in-charge of the Satellites team that won silver at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup Tournament in Argentina eight years ago, a record that still stands as the best performance by the Satellites in the history of the tournament.

He advised the Sellas Tetteh-led technical team to work hard to improve on the psyche of the players to ensure that they brought their skills and vast experience to bear on the team to ensure a collective success.

"The team must have unity of purpose so that they would achieve the goal of lifting the trophy', he added. Coach Afranie also called on Ghanaians to rally solidly behind the players and support the team with prayers to achieve its goal of annexing the ultimate trophy.