Ghana has named Jones Attuquefio as the new coach for the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars.
Ghana News Agency reported that Jones, a veteran of the national team, would take over from Osam Duodu who reverts to his former position as Chief Technical Adviser of the Ghana Football Association after being the caretaker coach following the departure of Italian Guissepe Dossena June.
Jones, 56, still remains under contract with champion club Accra Hearts of Oak.
He told the agency that he felt honoured to be offered the prestigious job but admitted that he does not have enough knowledge about some of the foreign-based players.
"It's one of the most prestigious jobs you can have as a manager," he said. "I am greatly honoured. You can't say no when you're offered the manager-ship of your national team."
He was surprised when Chairman of the Ghana Football Association approached him on his appointment since there are many good managers around.
He said he felt, however, that it was a challenge he had to take in order to prove the worth of local coaches.
"Even though I am yet to work with some of the foreign-based players of the team, like Otto Addo and Charles Amoah, the little I had with them when I was assisting Osam Doudu was a good start that we can build upon," he said.
Jones rejected suggestions that taking both jobs could affect the performances of both teams.
Hearts have previously refused sharing their coach with any of the national teams but there is the possibility that a compromise would be reached between Hearts management and the Ghana Football Association.
"Before the chairman of the FA called me to discuss my appointment, he informed me that he had already talked to Harry Zakkour, Head of Hearts Management Board, and he gave him the green light to talk to me meaning his approval," Jones said.
Jones will get advice from a three-man advisory group composed of Ben Kwofie, C. K. Gyamfi and Sam Ardey, all former coaches of the national team who are to act as his consultants.
The following is a Fact file on Cecil Jones Attuquayefio who was appointed the new head coach of the Senior National team, the Black Stars on Friday.
October 18, 1944- Born in Accra
PLAYING CAREER: 1962-65 - A member of Ghana Student International Football team and at the same time a member of the Ghana Academicals team. 1962-63 - Played for Accra Stansfast F/C a first division team 1963-65 - Ghana Republicans F/C 1966-74 - Accra Great Olympics F/C
INTERNATIONAL CAREER: 965-74 -A member of the winning team during the African Cup of Nations in 1965, was also a in the team during the African Cup finals in 1968 and 70.
ADMINISTRATION: 1982-84 - Rose from being a member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to the position of Vice Chairman of the Association. 1995-97 - Deputy General secretary GFA
COACHING CAREER: 1974-84 - Had his first coaching stint as the head coach of Accra Great Olympics. 1985-87 - An assistant coach of the senior national team, Black Star 1988-90 - Coached Okwawu United and later moved to Cote D'Ivoire to handle Stade Abidjan. 1990-95 - Returned to Ghana to manage Goldfield Soccer club and Academy, when they dominated the local scene winning the Premier League three times on the run. 1996 - Assisted coach Sam Ardey to take the national under-23 soccer team, Black Meteors to the Atlanta Olympic Games. 998-99 - Coached the national Under-17 team, Black Starlets, to win the African under 17 cup in Guinea and later the bronze at the world under-17 tournament in New Zealand. 1998- 2000 - Arrives at Hearts of Oak and coaches them to two League and Cup trophies. Currently on the verge of giving Hearts its first continental title having already qualified to play the winner of Group A in the final of this year's CAF champions League in December.
AWARDS: 1973 - MOV. Member of the order of Volta (Civil Division Ghana)
Ghana has named Jones Attuquefio as the new coach for the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars.
Ghana News Agency reported that Jones, a veteran of the national team, would take over from Osam Duodu who reverts to his former position as Chief Technical Adviser of the Ghana Football Association after being the caretaker coach following the departure of Italian Guissepe Dossena June.
Jones, 56, still remains under contract with champion club Accra Hearts of Oak.
He told the agency that he felt honoured to be offered the prestigious job but admitted that he does not have enough knowledge about some of the foreign-based players.
"It's one of the most prestigious jobs you can have as a manager," he said. "I am greatly honoured. You can't say no when you're offered the manager-ship of your national team."
He was surprised when Chairman of the Ghana Football Association approached him on his appointment since there are many good managers around.
He said he felt, however, that it was a challenge he had to take in order to prove the worth of local coaches.
"Even though I am yet to work with some of the foreign-based players of the team, like Otto Addo and Charles Amoah, the little I had with them when I was assisting Osam Doudu was a good start that we can build upon," he said.
Jones rejected suggestions that taking both jobs could affect the performances of both teams.
Hearts have previously refused sharing their coach with any of the national teams but there is the possibility that a compromise would be reached between Hearts management and the Ghana Football Association.
"Before the chairman of the FA called me to discuss my appointment, he informed me that he had already talked to Harry Zakkour, Head of Hearts Management Board, and he gave him the green light to talk to me meaning his approval," Jones said.
Jones will get advice from a three-man advisory group composed of Ben Kwofie, C. K. Gyamfi and Sam Ardey, all former coaches of the national team who are to act as his consultants.
The following is a Fact file on Cecil Jones Attuquayefio who was appointed the new head coach of the Senior National team, the Black Stars on Friday.
October 18, 1944- Born in Accra
PLAYING CAREER: 1962-65 - A member of Ghana Student International Football team and at the same time a member of the Ghana Academicals team. 1962-63 - Played for Accra Stansfast F/C a first division team 1963-65 - Ghana Republicans F/C 1966-74 - Accra Great Olympics F/C
INTERNATIONAL CAREER: 965-74 -A member of the winning team during the African Cup of Nations in 1965, was also a in the team during the African Cup finals in 1968 and 70.
ADMINISTRATION: 1982-84 - Rose from being a member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to the position of Vice Chairman of the Association. 1995-97 - Deputy General secretary GFA
COACHING CAREER: 1974-84 - Had his first coaching stint as the head coach of Accra Great Olympics. 1985-87 - An assistant coach of the senior national team, Black Star 1988-90 - Coached Okwawu United and later moved to Cote D'Ivoire to handle Stade Abidjan. 1990-95 - Returned to Ghana to manage Goldfield Soccer club and Academy, when they dominated the local scene winning the Premier League three times on the run. 1996 - Assisted coach Sam Ardey to take the national under-23 soccer team, Black Meteors to the Atlanta Olympic Games. 998-99 - Coached the national Under-17 team, Black Starlets, to win the African under 17 cup in Guinea and later the bronze at the world under-17 tournament in New Zealand. 1998- 2000 - Arrives at Hearts of Oak and coaches them to two League and Cup trophies. Currently on the verge of giving Hearts its first continental title having already qualified to play the winner of Group A in the final of this year's CAF champions League in December.
AWARDS: 1973 - MOV. Member of the order of Volta (Civil Division Ghana)
