As diversified as our names are, so are our opinions, and everyone is entitled to his or hers. Many have spoken see Jones to be the ideal man to handle the black stars in the present circumstances, either based on his own personal credentials or on the fact that they believe it's about time we took a local coach, and if a local coach, then why not the current forerunner among them? Others, on the other hand, have argued for Le Roy, just because they don't want a local coach, or that they believe the man is better qualified. I don't intend to re-raise all the issues about their credentials here. What I want to point out, however, are a few things which I see distorted or missing in all the arguments for or against Jones, which I think are noteworthy. Why do some think Jones is not qualified?
ONE- Some claim he had a poor run handling the stars. THIS IS NOT TRUE. ON THE CONTRARY, Jones record with the little time he handled the stars shows why he is the right man for the job.
He lost to an Oppon Weah led Liberia with a foreign legion who were so indisciplined that they entertained their girlfriends in camp the eve of their game. The players themselves accepted blame for the defeat afterwards. Jones' next action was to change that team- against people's warnings that he would not succeed. He trained and used a local 11 to mesmerize a highly rated Nigerian side, AND FROM THAT HUGE DRAW, HE STARTED WINNING, and started winning BIG! He won 2-0, 3-0, and was on the winning spree when he was abruptly sacked due to sheer jealousy!
If a coach loses one game, does his homework, records a huge draw, and starts winning big afterwards, would you call such a coach competent or incompetent? TWO:Some claim Jones cannot handle the discipline p[roblem of the stars. That's a lie. The action he took shows that he has the guts and ability to handle the players' inflated ego. If he was bold enough to drop the Akunnors, Arhinfuls, Kuffuors, Prekos, Johnsons, Ayews and all the big names at that time, will you say that coach cannot handle them? I bet you, if those players were being called again, they would behave well the second time!
THREE- I don't know where people get this silly notion that African coaches are not up to the task- But that's not true! This same Jones coached Hearts of Oak to be the 6th best team in the world- ahead of all these big big european clubs! Believe you me, if Barcelona had met hearts of Oak in 2001, Hearts would have disgraced them! And you say they lack ideas or are incompetent? Give me a break! Which of Jones' competitors, Le Roy , Troussier or the rest, has ever coached any team to place even 10th in world ranking before?
You see, it is all about this colonial mentality. Who say black man no get sense? Travel and see! Those of us around here do the same thing as whites with Ph.Ds from Harvard, MITs, and Princeton's and they still keep chasing our shadows. If Jones' accomplishments had been chalked by a white man, many of his detractors would be singing his praises.
FOUR- The unfortunate jealousy which abruptly ended his tenure cannot come to play now- because now, there is a contract!
FIVE-jONES is finishing a great business he was not allowed to because of his abrupt dismissal- to win the African cup of nations and the world cup with the black stars, another C.K.Gyamfi
SIX- Winning these laurels with a local coach will win more respect for Ghana football and Africa football SEVEN- ALL the local coaches will help and support Jones fully- because at long last, the black man would be said to be capable of managing his football and conquering the world.
EIGHT-Le Roy does not have the experience of Jones with Ghana football.
NINE-When the going gets tough, he'll speak Twi or Ga to the boys(ha ha ha). I remember in Barcelona '92 how instructions were issued in Twi to Yaw Preko :"Yaw ko, ko, ko" meaning he should run-He did run, received the ball, did his own thing, connected to Ayew, and the results was history! I think in Atlanta '96 or so, similar instructions were issued in ga to Ablade Kuma which made him release balls quicker. Did you hear behind the screen "fa to ho, fa to ho, fa to ho" in 1978 during the final match of the African nations cup, which let the first player put down the ball, another took the throw-in, and that resulted in the winning goal?
Give the brother the job now, and he'll deliver!
BRONX, NY,USA
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