Grant to build youth academy – GFA

The Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Francis Oti Akenteng has said that, Black Stars coach, Avram Grant is keen on developing football from the grass root.

GFA is set to name the Israeli coach in an expected two-year contract ahead of the Black Stars' participation in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in Equatorial Guinea next year.

According to Akenteng, the former Chelsea coach's qualities, background and track record positions him as the right person to aid the country's development from the grass root level.

He said that ‘‘I was happy Grant said he would help build an academy and develop football from the grass roots. The technical committee at the GFA could totally relate to that dream because our focus is to develop youth football."

On targets for Grant, the Technical Director said that, the trainer should not be pressurised into winning the AFCON title, citing time limitations.

"We should not put a lot of pressure on him to win the Nations Cup next year. There is always a target when you employ someone but in this case, he is new to the team, to the continent and the time is very short to set him that target. "Grant will not even have the opportunity of getting to know his team by playing in an international friendly since the qualifiers are already over. I suggest we allow him to work gradually to the destination he hope to take us without the pressure of winning the AFCON as such short notice.

"His track record indicates he is excellent at managing players, which seem to be our bane over the years. Once he wins that battle with our support, we should be ready to earn positive results."

Grant is said to have promised to spend 70 percent of his time in Ghana and use the remaining 30 percent to monitor Ghanaian players outside the country.