Press Conference on National Coach’s Exit Stirs Drama

Drama erupted at a press conference organised by the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and addressed by Mr Emmanuel A Owusu-Ansah, Acting Chairman of the FA to give reasons for the sack of Cecil Jones Attuquayefio and the appointment Mr Osam Doudu as national coach.

The drama started when Mr Owusu-Ansah's answers to questions by journalists did not seem to satisfy most of the media men present. Some of the sports writers shouted on top of their voices to challenge the decision of the GFA while others said the association was in acting capacity and was not properly constituted to dabble into the appointment and dismissal of coaches.


The Acting Chairman attributed the loss of Ghana's leadership position in Group Two of the World Cup qualifying series to conflict of interest, necessitated by Jones' continued responsibility with Hearts of Oak .


" Out of a possible nine points, from world cup matches which all Ghanaians would like to see the Stars participate even if for the sack of participating, Ghana have been able to gain only a point out of a possible nine and in the African Cup qualifiers lost one and lost one"


He said the reason why the team has not fared well in the qualifiers of the two tournaments was not due to want of skills by Ghanaian players but to the fact that the coach has not been able to give the team good attention since, he also doubles as the coach of Hearts.


"We think that this arrangement is not the best and if we have had a coach who would devote all his time and energies entirely to the Stars, perhaps the nation would be getting closer to the World Cup.


"Even though some still believe that qualification is not over, in the view of the FA, the country has missed the boat again and to make matters worse, the country would be playing the three of our four remaining matches away from home."

Mr Owusu-Ansah continued that at a meeting between the management of Accra Hearts of Oak at the GFA, Hearts insisted that the club would like to undertake a training tour of Europe prior to their World Clubs tournament.


He said hearts also have the defence of the African Championship to contend with and it was illogical to think that would dispense with the services of Jones for their busy schedule. "During this time when Hearts would be away, the national team would be engaged in important matches hence missing the services of the coach and the nation would not forgive the FA if we fail to qualify for the African Cup of Nations ."


Mr Owusu-Ansah said even though Jones remained on the pay roll of Hearts, while working with the GFA without a signed contract, the GFA has decided to give him a "golden handshake" at the earliest convenience.


He said Coach Osam Doudu, has been asked to assemble all materials available and raise a Black Stars team for the match World Cup qualifying match against Sierra Leone on May fifth, 2002.


On the position of a permanent coach for the Stars, he said the FA is still consulting with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and a decision would be taken later.