THE head coach of the Black Satellites, Anthony Kwabena Edusei, has indicated that the current squad will be overhauled
in order to get a more formidable team to represent the nation at next January’s Africa Youth Championship in Burkina Faso.
He disclosed that the technical team is now going to embark on a critical appraisal of each of the players in the team after which those who fall below the mark will be axed.
Speaking to the Graphic Sports yesterday after the team’s return from Tunisia last Tuesday, coach Edusei, in no uncertain terms, stressed the need to revamp the team in order to excel in Burkina Faso.
He therefore did not hide his desire to invite Europe-based Sulley Muntari and Razak Pimpong, while going round the country to scout for other talented youthful stars who can match up to the task.
“This exercise will be undertaken with current form as the basis since I don’t believe in names”, he noted. The Satellites who are now lodged at the National Sports College, Winneba, are expected to break camp this weekend and reassemble next month.
Coach Edusei hinted that the team will hopefully engage in some international friendlies against Togo, Mali and Burkina Faso, among others, before leaving for the Africa Championship.
He was, however, full of praise for the players for the high level of commitment they exhibited in the face of the odds they encountered in the final eliminator against Tunisia.
He stated that the Satellites did enough to merit the qualification as they were able to hold the worthy North Africans in the second leg in Tunis and were just unlucky not to have utilised some decent chances created.
He described the 64th minute goal conceded by the Satellites in the match as unfortunate, revealing that the team was handicapped before the match following the last minute disappointment of Muntari and Pimpong were expected to meet them in Tunis.
He said the team was further weakened by the absence of their marsman, Kwadwo Poku, who was picked from camp by Kotoko on the eve of their departure to Scotland in view of their Cup Winners Cup assignment in Congo.
According to him, they were therefore compelled to travel to Scotland and onward to Tunis with 16 players only to be joined by Zamalek star Ernest Papa Arko 48 hours to the match.
Coach Edusei expressed misgivings about that arrangement which he said initially destabilised his plans for the match, thus compelling him to do some last minute adjustments.
He noted that though the Satellites lost 0-2 to their Scotish counterparts, that match renewed the confidence of the boys after their morale had sunk low following the public outcry which characterised their 1-0 first leg victory.
He pointed out that though the team went through hell, the FA did its best in the circumstance to ensure their qualification and expected similar support in the impending championship to enable them to book a place in the world Youth Championship.
