Coach Milo shifts attention to building strong bench

Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - Black Stars trainer Milovan Rajevac has shifted gear towards building of a tough and strong substitute bench for the team.

The latest development comes barely 48 hours after the Stars' unimpressive outing against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in an international friendly that ended barren at the Ohene Djan stadium. The Stars substitute bench has come under a barrage of criticisms for under-performing, a view the Serbian equally subscribes to. Coach Milo confessed to GNA Sports he is very much aware of the low quality of his bench and that it has served as one of his major hurdles in his quest to build an all-round team.

The Serbian explained that it is for this reason that he has launched an extensive programme in search of equally good replacements for his first team players.

The Stars coach reckons that unavailability of perfect replacements have been pivotal in his team's sombre performance and wants to improve upon that before the final round qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations begins next March. "My target is to get two equally good players for each position. The strength of a good team largely depends on the substitutes and we must find the right materials to make up for any losses." Milo was emphatic that the strength of the bench will largely play a role in the Stars qualification to the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.

"With a strong bench, you don't have to worry about the absence of key players. This is because the replacements can equally make-up for the loss".

The Serbian is highly optimistic that the Stars bench would improve before their opener against Benin, which will mark the beginning of their quest of qualifying for the Mundial. The unavailability of equally good materials in the Black Stars substitute's bench has largely played a key role in the team's poor outings for some time.

During the Egypt 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, the Stars failed to go past the first round with a "weakened" team with the absence of the likes of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan, all through injury.

And at the Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup, the absence of Michael Essien through suspension had a telling effect as the Stars lost 0-3 to Brazil at the 1/16th stage.

Just last Wednesday, the issue of replacements reared its ugly head again as the Stars were held by a youthful Tunisian side 0-0 in an international friendly with Essien, Muntari, John Mensah and Laryea Kingston all out due to injuries.