Avram Grant meets Ayariga

Minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga, has given audience to newly appointed Black Stars Coach Avram Grant.

The Israeli touched down in Accra on Tuesday, December 2, to begin a 27-month role with Ghana’s senior national men’s soccer team.

The former Chelsea and Portsmouth manager was at the office of the Sports Minister on Wednesday.

Mahama Ayariga congratulated the 54-year-old on his new role.

“I am congratulating you because in this country, being a head coach of the national team is one of the most visible and challenging jobs,” he said.

“Ghanaians love football and love their national team and how the national team performs determines whether some people will take breakfast in the morning or go to bed early,” he added.

The former Israel coach has as his foremost task winning the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, which Ghana hopes to host.

He is also lined up to provide technical assistance to the other national teams including the women’s teams and conduct training workshops for local coaches.

“We have every confidence that you will be able to meet the expectations of our countrymen and women when it comes to leading us as we encounter nations in the various tournaments.”

Grant, who is in the country for the third time in two months, says he has appreciated Ghanaians’ love for the game from his interactions with those he has met so far.

“Football is more than football because it brings a lot of joy to the people,” he said.

He indicated that, “the fact that I am here means that I believe in the potential of the team and I believe in the job that I am going to do.”

Grant is set to be unveiled on Thursday in Accra.