Don't Fear To Fire Burkhard - Polo

Former celebrated Ghanaian international, Mohammed Polo, has urged the GFA not to hesitate in terminating the appointment of Black Stars coach, Burkhard Ziese. He said by failing to lead the Stars to victory over Uganda and Rwanda, Ziese has no business continuing in his job.

Polo was speaking to the Graphic Sports in an interview in Accra this week. He said the time has come for the FA to break out of the mentality that only a foreign coach can take the Black Stars to heights of glory.


The dribbling ace noted that the wonderful job done by ‘Sir’ Cecil Jones Attuquayefio by ensuring Benin’s first Nations Cup appearance should lead to a change of attitude among the FA regarding its perception about local coaches.


“We should all be proud of Jones and be convinced that he is up to the task of handling the Black Stars,” he noted. Polo asserted that the system made it impossible for Coach Attuquayefio to bring out the best in him while in charge of the Black Stars, saying the buck didn’t have to stop at Jones Attuquayefio.


He stressed the need for the authorities to have confidence in Ghanaian coaches and stop wasting hard-earned money on foreign coaches who simply are not up to the task. Polo reiterated his declaration to be entrusted with the handling of any of the national teams.


On the perception in some quarters that he should first handle a side in the Ghanaian Premier league before thinking of bidding for the Black Stars coach job, he said by handling Accra Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics and Advance Stars he has proved what he is capable of at club level.

Polo denied claims that he has very poor human relations and explained that his tendency to say things as they are and resist interference have been often misconstrued to mean poor human relations.


Disclosing why his contract with Stade de Malien was terminated, the legend explained that he walked out of the contract because of the level of indiscipline among the playing body and the resistance by the authorities to his efforts to stem the canker.


“I just couldn’t tolerate a situation where players indulged in acts of immorality while in camp for a continental assignment, and yet the club’s authorities would condone such acts of indiscipline”, he disclosed. He denied that he was dismissed by the authorities of the club for non-performance as has been alleged in some quarters.


Polo said he changed the fortunes of the club to the amazement of many Malians, noting that it was on the basis of what he achieved in that short period that another high profile club, Djoliba, has been in contact with him to come back to Mali and be their coach.


He said he has turned dream the offer because he wants to concentrate on the soccer academy he has set up.