August fears for Black Stars

Accra, May 19, GNA - Accra Great Olympics head coach Ken August'S concern and fear about the chances of the Black Stars as they participate in the 2006 World Cup in Germany is whether the team can play with a high level of cohesion,

According to the coach, most of the selected players are individually talented but the team stands the risk of facing problems with cohesion, which is one of the hall-mark of every successful team but the players hardly play as a team.

He told the GNA Sports in an interview that, a player like Eric Addo, though a talented midfielder has not been with the team for a long time and wondered how he would be able to fit into the team.

Coach August explained that most of the players have for a long time played under different systems in Europe and this is likely to pose a problem to the technical bench.

The Coach said the same problems of cohesion could have accounted for the teams' loss in the two friendly matches they played before the final selection, adding that the 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Nice of France gives credence to the problems to be faced by the team at the tournament.

"Perhaps this is the more reason why we mostly adopt defensive systems in our games and that will not always give us the desired results".

"I wonder what kind of preparations the team will be going through under this short period as they are likely to confront fitness problems too". Coach August, however, believes the team can make the best out of the situation since the players are determined to make an impact in the competition.

He believes the three international friendlies lined up for the team is capable of improving the situation.

The Black Stars are currently camping in Austria and are scheduled to play Turkey, Jamaica and South Korea before the commencement of the World Cup in Germany early next month.

Coach August has welcomed the adoption of a new league system for the country, which now spans from July to April.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) adopted the new system at the last Congress.