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Soccer News of Wednesday, 2 April 2014

Source: Sammy Heywood Okine

Former World Best Coach tips Ghana to win World Cup if…

Two times World Coach of the Year, the legendary German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld says Ghana is not far off from becoming world champions.

Addressing journalists and Ghanaian football personalities at the re-launch of Ghana's premier sports news source allsports.com.gh at the Muvempic Ambassador Hotel, Hitzfeld, who is in Ghana for the first time said the Black Stars can win the world cup if they put the necessary measures in place.

"I think Ghana can become world champions," Hitzfeld said. "What's important is that the performance has to be consistent throughout."

Hitzfeld, who is the current coach of the Switzerland national football team that will participate at the upcoming Word Cup in Brazil, was answering a question posed by legendary Ghanaian coach and administrator Ben Koufie, who wanted to know why African teams have constantly pulled up surprise, wins at World Cups but yet can't seem to reach for the ultimate. "When you surprise or pull an upset, the emotions are very high because you feel you have done something special, and that can derail your focus. But such achievements are only the beginning," he explained.

"To teams or countries that want to become world champions, such achievements are seen as normal because they have their eyes on the ultimate."

The 65 year-old manager, considered by many to be one of the greatest coaches in the history of German football, has racked up over 25 trophies as a top level manager since 1982, including winning the European Cup/Champions League twice with two different teams.

Nicknamed "The General", he has also been named World Coach of the Year twice, and was also a prolific striker during his days as a footballer, at a point being crowned top scorer in the Swiss League in 1973.