Coach Kwesi Appiah will have his expiring contract extended before the Black Stars play in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in June, a top GFA executive has hinted.
Appiah, whose contract expires on 31 July – just two weeks after the World Cup - will have the peace of mind in playing at the tournament if the GFA takes the decisive decision to extend the deal.
With the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers starting just weeks after the World Cup, allowing Appiah’s contract to expire before a decision is taken could be risky.
George Afriyie, a key member of the inner cabinet of GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi, says a decision on the extension of his contract will be taken by May when the Executive Committee meets.
“I am saying that the Executive Committee will meet. I am not saying that Kwesi Appiah’s contract will not be renewed,” Afriyie told Power FM.
“It looks more likely that his contract will be renewed at the next Executive Committee meeting because I can judge from where I am sitting, looking at those for and those against (Kwesi Appiah’s contract extension).”
Appiah took over from Serbian manager Goran Stevanovic in April 2012 and became the first Ghanaian coach to steer the Black Stars to the World Cup.
Ghanaians are divided over whether his contract should be extended now because he could leave the post if the team excels at the World Cup and as richer offers could pour in from several countries.
Others are of the view that if his contract is extended and Ghanaians are unsatisfied with the team’s performance, the GFA would be obliged to pay ‘judgement debt’ just as Stevanovic was paid as he was sacked before his contract expired.
However, majority of Ghanaians are in favour of a Ghanaian staying in charge of the team with many saying Appiah is competent and the right person to steer the team in the right direction even if things don’t go as expected at the World Cup.
Despite the talk of contract extension, Appiah has been fully focused on preparing the Black Stars to excel at the World Cup and has refused to talk about contract issues, preferring to focus on the team.
