Gov't Can Only Afford $10,000 Coach -Koufie

Ghana Football Association Chairman Ben Koufie has indicated his preference for Antoni Tiechniczek as Coach of the senior national team the Black Stars. "His track record speaks for itself, he is seasoned, experienced and we need experience" he said in an exclusive interview with JOYFM's Sports presenter Kojo Frimpong and monitored by Myghananews. Below is the interview.

Kojo: What will be the functions of the new coach?
Ben Koufie (Ben): He will primarily be in charge of the senior national team with qualification for the 2006 World Cup as the main target. But in addition to that, he will have supervisory role over the junior national team coaches. The junior teams will name their coaches all right but it is only proper that they work in line with the aspirations of the senior national team coach.

Kojo: For how many years do you want to have the coach here?
Ben: It's a long-term thing. At the moment, we will go for a two-year renewable contract. You know our target is 2006 and if we get the coach we want, he must come up with his programme under our own guidelines. You know we have this development programme catering for senior national team and grassroot development up to 2006. Now it will be the duty of the coach to come up with a programme within this period. In between now and then, we have the Cup of Nations in 2004, the Olympic Games of 2004 and that will be our springboard to the World Cup.

Kojo: You are saying that he has to work under the FA development plan. Is that not going to constitute interference in any way?
Ben: Not at all. You see, we want to do the right things. Before, everything had been done haphazardly. I am sorry to say that but that is the truth. We are going to have our education and development department separated from the national team activities. A national coach must have the junior coaches under him so infact the planning is broadened in a way that there is a sort of relay. While the U-17 team is preparing to eventually give the baton to U-20 to U-23, and U-23 to the national team. If you have a planned programme, this is very easy to achieve.

Kojo: How much are we looking to pay our new coach?
Ben: It is true that it is very difficult to get a good coach today with a meagre salary. You are talking of fifteen, twenty and even up to thirty thousand dollars a month, which of course the country cannot afford. The ministry (youth and sports) has set a sealing they won't go beyond and they have given the FA the responsibility to look for a good coach who will accept what the ministry can offer. That is what we are doing now.

Kojo: Let me ask you a pen-point question, how much is the ministry offering?
Ben: The ministry is looking at nothing beyond 10,000 US dollars a month.

Kojo: Mr Koufie, is Antoni Tiechniczek going to be the coach of Ghana Black Stars?
Ben: I would have been very happy to have him as the coach of the Black Stars but we have not finished talking.

Kojo: Why would you want Tiechniczek?
Ben: His track record speaks for itself, he is seasoned, experienced and we need experience.

Kojo: What about Zivadenovic (the Yugoslav)?
Ben: He's quite good too. He is a seasoned coach, he has a name, the same as Ian Porterfield.

Kojo: How much money are those three coaches talking?
Ben: They differ. Somebody is talking of 15,000 dollars, somebody is talking of 20,000 dollars. They are all in the same range, 15-20,000 dollars.

Kojo: Cameroun is paying Schafer around 20,000 dollars, Senegal gives Metsu 12,000. Can't we go the extra mile and say Tchavieniczak, this is your money (15,000 dollars) get the job done for us?
Ben: Yes, it depends on what is in the kitty. You cut your coat according to your size. I would have wished to get the best and pay him even 20,000 dollars.

Kojo: Who is the best?
Ben: Those we are talking about. They are all quite good. If we get anyone of them, I think it will serve our purpose. I will be happy with any one of them as national team coach of Ghana. There are many factors which contributes to the success of a team and for that matter a coach. If those factors are not in place, however good a coach is, he will not achieve anything.