Three Apply To Handle Stars

AS THE impasse between the Ghana FA and coach Cecil Jones Attuaquayefio intensifies, three names have offered to take on the role of Ghana coach.

Reports reveal that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Secretariat has been inundated with applications from three notable coaches - Burkhard Ziese, Rainer Bonhof and Ger Lagendijk - all with the hope of receiving the nod to coach the Black Stars to take over from caretaker boss Fred Osam Duodu.


Also expected to apply is former coach Guiseppe Dossena (in pic), who parted company with Ghana last year.


The Ghana Football Association has confirmed that it has received the applications from the trio but the number is expected to rise when it becomes clear that the nation will widen its options by looking for an expatriate coach.

ACCORDING TO the GFA general secretary, W.K. Agra, the Association has met with vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who has responsibility over the Youth and Sports Ministry but no decision has been taken yet as to the exact course the country will follow in its bid for a new national coach.
However, according to reports from Ghana, a decision to seek assistance from both the Romanian and Czech embassies in the quest for suitable coaches has been taken.


Meanwhile coach Fred Osam Duodu is faced with problems as only five players have reported to camp ahead of the World Cup qualifying match away to Sierra Leone on May 6. The quintet are Princeton Owusu-Ansah, Isaac Boakye, Nana Arhin-Duah and Kofi Amoako all of Obuasi Goldfields and Joe Ansah of Hearts of Oak. The contingent of players from Asante Kotoko have still not arrived.
At the Black Stars camp Osam Duodu has named Francis Oti Akenteng as his assistant. Akenteng, who was the coach of the Black Starlets, is also the deputy director of the National Sports College.
Osam Duodu is likely to invite some foreign-based players to join his squad. Charles Amoah, Yaw Preko, C.K. Akonnor, Otto Addo, Samuel Osei Kuffour and Stephen Appiah are all expected to be included for the game against Sierra Leone.