Ziva Resigns As Stars Coach

..collected 3 months salary & other benefits to the value of $75,000.
Milan Zivadinovic resigned from his position as coach of Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, on Monday night.

Zivadinovic sent his resignation letter to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) from Yugoslavia, where he is said to be visiting his sick mother.

The Yugoslav decided to leave the job due to his poor health and the harsh "climatic conditions" in Ghana.

Zivadinovic's resignation follows his sudden departure from Ghana, after the GFA denied him official clearance to leave the country.

It is the third time the coach is walking out of a contract after quitting his job with the Iraqi national team and Saudi Arabian side Al Nasr.

Incensed by the latest development, the GFA held an emergency meeting for the second time in a week and decided that Zivadinovic will be reported to world football governing body Fifa.

Officials are furious that Zivadinovic, who signed a two-year contract, left after reportedly collecting three months salary and other benefits to the value of $75,000.

While in charge of the Black Stars, Zivadinovic accused the GFA of not providing sufficient support before their recent Nations Cup qualifier against Uganda in Kampala.

He was furious with the GFA for cancelling three friendly matches in Turkey and Yugoslavia.

Ghana coach blames FA for defeat Until a replacement is found for the Yugoslav coach, the national team will be managed by Malik Jabir and Isaac Paha - both former internationals - in conjunction with Emmanuel Afranie.

The immediate task ahead of the coaching trio is to beat Rwanda on October 13, in a 2004 Nations Cup qualifier in Accra.

Stars Coach absconds - Graphic Version

Black Stars Coach Millan Zivadinovic has walked out of his contract with the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

In a letter sent to his employers from his native Yugoslavia yesterday, Millan said he was unable to return to his job because he was undergoing treatment in his country due to unfavourable weather conditions in Ghana.

The Yugoslav left the country last week saying he had to attend to his sick mother. But the GFA expressed outrage over his behaviour since he sought no official permission for the trip.

And in his letter, effectively abrogating his contract with the Ghana Football Association yesterday, Mr. Zivadinovic made no reference to his sick mother. Instead, he blasted the FA for lack of co-operation during the days leading to Ghana’s Nations Cup date against Uganda which the Stars lost 1-0 in Kampala.

The coach accused the FA of undermining his team-building effort by cancelling three matches he had arranged for the 'Black Stars in Turkey and Yugoslavia.

Re-echoing the criticism he roared out in the immediate aftermath of the Kampala defeat, Mr. Zivadinovic labelled the FA’s behaviour a breach of contract and emphasised his unwillingness to continue working in Ghana.

The FA had, on its part, attributed the difficulties encountered in the Black Stars’ build-up to visa problems and failure of Government to release money early enough for the trial matches.

Critics, however ascribe fraud to the behaviour of the 58-year-old coach. Before leaving the country, he had collected his signing-on fee of $15,000 and been paid $10,000 for each of the three months he was supposed to be working with the Black Stars and the national Under 23 team.

For all that, he played only one match with the Black Stars and lost it. He took advantage of Liberia’s withdrawal from the All Africa Games qualifier against the Meteors, to leave for Yugoslavia, saying he had to attend to his sick mother.

Millan’s strange behaviour creates a void for the GFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to fill before October 13 when the Black Stars play the second of their 2004 Nations Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda in Accra. Graphic Sports learned yesterday that the management board of the GFA was meeting over the issue after which their lawyers would react appropriately.