Improve team security at tournaments - Appiah

Former Ghana coach, Kwasi Appiah has asked for the security of the Black Stars to be upped in future tournaments.

Appiah in technical report submitted to the Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), after the Black Stars’ embarrassing campaign in Brazil said “I recommend the beefing up of the team’s security to ensure no easy access to the team as well as the controlling of the movement of players day and night.”

Ghana exited at the first round of the competition following an appearance fee stand-off that saw the team refusing to train for one day and Appiah, according to the reported sighted by GNA Sports believe future approach to issues of money must be different.

He said in the four-page report that “Payment of agreed appearance fees must be done and also all related bonuses must be agreed on before the tournament starts.”

The coach, first indigenous trainer to qualify the team to the World Cup also suggested that “Input of players must be sought in the selection of team hotels to reduce the level of agitation,” in future tournaments.

Appiah who supervised 28 matches, winning 13 losing 10 and drawing five at the helm also recommended that “Sponsors and others not directly connected with the team should be in different hotels. There should also be a reduction in the number of people with the team.”

The Black Stars’ campaigned was rocked by issues of appearance fee after government and the players failed to reach an agreement before the tournament began.

Subsequently, the players after picking only a point in their first match loss (1-2) to the United States a and drawing 2-2 with Germany refused to train and threatened not to travel to Brasilia for their third Group G match against Portugal unless their appearances fee of a 100,000 dollars each was paid.

The coach was sacked earlier this month despite amassing four points out of a possible six in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, a day after leading the Stars to an impressive 3-2 win over the Hawks of Togo in Lome.