Keep Milo Or Release Him? (Part II)

There is a bad habit which had been installed in human patella. This habit doesn’t seem to leave us alone no matter what we do and where we are. What we don’t have, we usually think it is better than what we do have. Excuse me to bring in this statement. When we have something beautiful around us, for example, our own Black African Women, with good hearts, we, African Men, tend to think the foreigners we don’t have are better than the ones in our possessions. Should we fall into such a trap with our eyes wide open? When something is going on well in our lives, we should allow it to last rather than to put an end to it.

Few arguments also have an indication as this particular squad has been the best the country had ever possessed, and that was why the Black Stars was able to reach the last eighth in the WC finals. It may be true; contrary, at the moment, no one can tell. A squad we could compare this to, though, would be the 2008 CAN squad. That team had few, not many, loop holes. It was the same team coach Le Roy took to the 2008 CAN and couldn't do anything with it in our own backyard? It was also the same squad Milo, due to injuries, injected in new and young players, polished it, and took to the CAN 2010, and was able to reach the finals. To add more compliment to his repertoire, he took LeRoy’s team, took Sellas Tetteh’s Under 20 winning team, put the two together and came out with a historic squad.

As humans, we all have flaws, or let me say, short comings; and therefore, Milovan is not far from it as well. On the contrary, with his records within his two year contract with the country, the coach has exceedingly achieved beyond his required goals. When Milovan was haired, according to GFA, they set up a goal for him to accomplish, like they did to ex-coach LeRoy. Anything below GFA’s goal wouldn’t have been tolerated. Folks, hasn’t his accomplishments during these past two years exceeded those goals set before him? This is the reason why at least, giving him another chance by renewing his two year contract wouldn't be a bad idea.

Moreover, since continuity and consistency are essential tools in building an organization, it is relevant to keep him. In other words, renewing his contract for two more years, in order for us to access his performance once again, would bring glory to the nation in the future. Based on his first two year accomplishments with the Black Stars, we could conclude with clear evidence that the country’s highest bids, which include a semi-final spot in the 2014 WC games, and the winnings to both CAN 2012 in Equatorial Guinea/Gabon and CAN 2013 in Libya could be guaranteed . The GFA could set a higher goal for him to work toward. If he is able to achieve the first two goals, which would be CAN 2012 and 2013 trophies within the next two to three years, we keep him further for the 2014 WC assignment. If not, we kick him out in peace.

A final reason to keep the coach is the fact that early preparation is the key to a successful event. If in case the coach leaves, it could take GFA at least 6 more months to replace him. It could also take the in-coming coach at least a year to know his players, their strengths, and their weaknesses.

Remember the 2012 and 2013 CAN qualification matches begin in two months, which the Black Stars is supposed to have its first match in Lobamba, Swaziland, on the 3rd of September 2010. A second match would be held in Accra, Ghana, against Sudan on the 8th of October 2010. CAF has completed its schedule; therefore, whether we have a coach or not the qualifying matches must go on. As citizens of Ghana, we already have a coach for our senior nation team. Therefore, my last questions are why do we have to release him for us to go through all the agony and hardship we went through during the 1990s; are we supposed to go forward or backward; and when was the first and the last time the Ghana Black Stars qualified to a quarter-finals in the World Cup Tournament?

This is the time to voice your opinions before GFA takes its decisions. So, what do you say, should we keep Rajevac Milovan or release him?

“In all things, get Understanding, get Wisdom.”

Ransford Peprah (Rnsfdpeprah@yahoo.com)