BONHOF STILL EYES STARS’ JOB

EVEN though the docket on a foreign coach for the Black Stars appears partly closed and shelved, the man tipped to take over the reins of the team says he is waiting for the green light to lead the team to greener patures.

The Stars are just weeks away from a double header in January against DR Congo and Liberia, but there is still an uneasy silence from the nation’s football controlling body over the choice of a substantive coach of the team.

GFA boss Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula, has promised naming the successor to Giuseppe Dossena in due course, even as Fred Osam-Duodu warms the hot seat in a caretaker capacity.

Rainer Bonhof, the former Germany assistant coach at the weekend reiterated his desire to spearhead the Star’s rennaisance into the future and quest for a historic World Cup appearance in 2002. Speaking to the Graphic Sports in a telephone interview from his Germany base at the weekend, the former German international said he has put his cards on the table and the final decision rests with the FA. “I gave the FA my terms and proposals on how to revive the fortunes of Ghana soccer and it is for them to decide if they are acceptable,” Bonhoff said.

Last Friday, he held a press conference in Monchengladbach to unveil to the local media his plans for Ghana football and the reason for his choice of the country over more lucrative offers from Egypt and Bundesliga side Eintraccht Frankfurt.

Why Ghana? “With players like Kuffour, Akonnor, Asamoah and others playing top clubs in Europe there is no reason why Ghana should not be at the World Cup and ranked among the top three in Africa,” Bonhof told Graphic Sports. “A country that has produced Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah and continues to produce many promsing players through the junior teams should be the dream of any coach. What Ghana lacks is a comprehensive developmental plan and sound technical guidance that must be followed for the country to fulfil her promise. That’s why people don’t understand my preference for Ghana.”

Explaining his developmental plan for Ghana football, which he unveiled to the German media, Bonhof stated that his main and immdediate target under a four-year action plan is to qualify the Stars to the World Cup and continental championship in Mali. Under the masterplan which Bonhof believes could lead to a new era for Ghana, the German would work to establish a uniform playing system for all the national teams --- Starlets through Meteors to the Stars --- in order to make it less diffcult for players and national coaches.

“If the players are used to one particular system it becomes easier for the coach to work with the players and vice-versa since each person is familiar with the pattern of play” he exlained. Bonhof’s vision is to establish a Black Stars office in Europe to monitor closely Ghanaian players and co-ordinate activities of the team, including the arrangement of friendly matches with European sides and marketing Ghana football.

Such a plan would shift the Stars training camp to Europe where the chunk of the players are based, which would eliminate flight difficulties when connecting from their various bases to Accra, and also save Ghana huge sums ussually paid for air travel. “Whether permitting, such a plan is feasible becuase it makes more economic sense to fly just five or six locals to Europe to train and play friendlies there and return home, rather than transport many players from Europe to Accra for the same purpose at a huge financial cost.

At a point when the marriage between the German and GFA was about to crystallise, he was invited to watch the Stars demolish Zimbabwe 4–0, which sent the nation into ecstasy. Bonhof though was happy about the result but believes Ghana should not assess its standard with countries like ZImbabwe or less endowed teams. “Playing countries like Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania (in reference to the Castle Lager Cup) will not do Ghana any good.

“There is nothing they can offer the Black Stars, Ghana should rather aim at improving her ranking marketability by playing top countries in Africa or Europe and that is how they can gain the respect and good sponsorship. After Cameroun drew with France their status has shot higher and this is what Ghana should do.” The GFA’s preference of Bonhof against Sports Minister E.T. Mensah’s belief in an indigenous coah, shows the conflict of interest now facing the football chiefs, for which the docket on Bonhof seems to be closed at the moment. However, should the minister move away from his “domestication” position on the choice of national coach, the FA option remains Bonhof, who is eagerly awaiting the green light.