Stars preparation on course - Kudjo Fianoo

Mr Kudjo Fianoo, Welfare Manager of the senior national team, the Black Stars, has said the team's preparation towards the CAN 2002 tournament scheduled for Mali in January is still on course in spite of difficulties in getting the full complement of local players for training.

In an interview with the GNA Sports in Accra on Monday, Mr Fianoo said he believed an amicable solution would soon be found in the wake of meetings between the coach and the Stars management committee to find common grounds acceptable by all.

The number of players that reported to camp doubled from six to 12 after the second camping session with all invited players from Hearts except Ishmael Addo, who sought permission to travel outside the country, participating. Players from Goldfields and Kotoko are yet to report.

"To me Hearts and Kotoko were reluctant to release their players due to the tension on them when they were running neck to neck on the league table, but now that the gap has been widened and the pressure reduces, I expect all of them to soften their stands soon.

Hearts, Kotoko and Goldfields who supply the bulk of the local stars for the national team refused to allow their players for camping with the excuse that they would not have enough time to prepare adequately for league matches when the players are released on Thursdays from Stars camp.

On whether a long camping is necessary, the Welfare manager said it is important since the team needs to be synchronised into one unit before the arrival of the foreign based counterparts to fill specific positions in the set up.

"Camping would not have been that necessary if we have majority of our players taking part in any of the continental club championships.

"At the moment the conditions of most of the players leave much to be desired and we have also been informed that the FA is in the process of adding a goalkeepers' coach to the technical team to handle our goalkeepers".

On the foreign-based players, Mr Fianoo said no decision has been taken on them since the leagues in Europe has just started adding that the coach has been in touch with some of the players; but it would be too early to know who would be invited.

He said they intend using most of the foreign-based players for the tournament even though their clubs would also like to use them for their league which still be in progress at the time of the tournament.

Mr Fianoo confirmed that the coach has been in contact with Alex Nyarko who recently announced that he was quitting international football to convince him to rescind his decision.