Let’s encourage local coaches — Veep

THE Vice-President, Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills has assured Ghanaians of a broad-based administration that will soon provide a long term plan to achieve quality results for the nation’s sports.

He emphasised on the need to make use of the abundant talents that is available in the country including the area of technical know-how for the national teams.

Speaking as the guest of honour at the first Convention for Retired Footballers at the Accra Stadium last Monday, Prof. Mills noted that the time has come for the nation to encourage her former footballers and assist them to develop their ability to impart their experiences to the younger generation.

He said the continuous use of expatriates as coaches for the country’s national team retards the development and progress of the country’s past footballers and called for its immediate halt.

He said he will not accept the signing on of any foreign coach because they do not possess any extra-ordinary talents from what is available locally.

“What do the foreign coaches have that is not available in this country?”, Prof. Mills asked.

The Vice-President advised the football administrators and Old Stars who were present at the function not to hasten in their attempt to build the national team, adding that, there is no need to rush for immediate results.

Using the Dutch national team as an example to buttress his point, Prof. Mills said Holland has now become a powerful force in European and world football through a gradual team building process.

“This is the time the nation must ensure self-reliance and believe in the talents we have”, he added.

Prof. Mills pledged his support for the old players’ association and promised to assist in giving due recognition to their sacrifices and the past services they rendered to their nation.

The Vice-President used the occasion to ask for forgiveness for whatever the public might perceive as government’s failure to honour all its obligations during it’s tenure of office.

Nii Borketey Kofi Kpetenhu I, the chief of Kpetenhu and MD for Heaven Bridge Industries brewers of Obuade Gin Bitters donated four cartons of their products and ? 1 million to the old stars to be used as transportation back to their various destinations.