Time for trophies - Stevanovic

Ghana's newly appointed Serbian coach Goran Stevanovic on Wednesday said he aimed to lead the World Cup quarter-finalists to the next level and see them become continental champions.

"It is now time for trophies," he said at his first news conference since his appointment was announced this week.


"It has been 30 years since Ghana last won the Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Stars were third in 2008, second in 2010. It is time to be first again." He said Ghana, which last won the African Cup of Nations in 1982, "must play ... attacking football while being cautious in defence, and I am sure we will achieve the results."


"I am here to build champions and I?m certain that all of us want to be champions," he said.


The coach has been given an initial two-year renewable contract and will be paid 30,000 euros monthly.

The 44-year-old is the third consecutive Serbian to be appointed by Ghana to coach the Black Stars.


Supporters will expect him to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countrymen, Ratomir Dujkovic and Milovan Rajevac, who both led Ghana to World Cups. "Ghana is a very good team and I know that many coaches would love to be in my position today," he said.


"That is why I want to take this exciting team further. I am aware that my job will not be easy. My biggest challenge in this role is to motivate the players to believe that they can do better."


His immediate task will be to guide the Black Stars to qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, to be hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.