Zumdick to Be Given a Long-Term Contract

to Manage the National Team
Zumdick, whose three-month contract expires on 31 December, has been approached about taking up the assistant manager's job at Bundesliga side Hamburg.

The German guided the Black Stars to a place in next year's group phase of the 2006 Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers.

Appiah, who plays for Italian side Juventus, said the lack of manageral stability had contributed to the declining form of the Black Stars in recent years.

Should Zumdick opt to leave Ghana, the west African nation would have to employ their fourth coach in 15 months.

"We've been through many coaches which has not helped us," Appiah began.

"We started the 2002 World Cup qualifiers with a 5-0 win but our campaign crashed after we lost our coach.

"Let's hope we are not going to commit the same mistake," Appiah said.

Defender Sammy Osei Kuffour also backed a contract extension for Zumdick, saying that he has shown himself to be a first-rate coach.

"I have been with the Black Stars since 1992 and been through many coaches.

"But I feel we have the best yet. He is someone the GFA must do everything to hold unto," said Kuffour, who plays for German club Bayern Munich.

Former national team boss Sam Arday said the decision of Ghana FA's to offer managers short-term contracts was a policy that would only promote the Black Stars decline.

"No team thrives on a porous foundation. What can a coach do within three months?," Arday asked.

Good teams can only be built over a four or five-year period.

"If we hire a coach and dismiss him after two months, we are really not doing ourselves any favours."