Black Stars Play Ajax Today

Feb 9 -- Ghana?s senior soccer team, the Black Stars, would come up against Dutch division one side, Ajax Amsterdam, at the Amsterdam Arena today as part of preparations for their next World/African Cup qualifier next month against D.R. Congo.

The game is the first for the new Ghanaian coach, Serbian Ratomir Dujkovic, who took over from Mariano Barreto of Portugal two months ago.

Dujkovic sees this game as crucial to the team?s chances of gaining a respectable result when they face D.R. Congo on 27th March, and is, therefore, taking no chances against the Dutch club side, who would be missing several of their first team regulars.

Top Guns Miss Out

Feb 8 -- Black Stars? coach, Ratomir Dujkovic, faces familiar problems as he gets down to work tomorrow with a predominantly foreign-based team in a test of strength in an international friendly against Ajax Amsterdam at the club?s ultra-modern stadium, Amsterdam Arena.

Tomorrow?s match, a dress rehearsal for next month?s crucial World Cup qualifier away to DR Congo,affords the Serbian coach a first time opportunity to meet his foreign legion who would be key to the success of Ghana?s World Cup campaign, and by extension serve as a measuring rod by which Dujkovic?s performance will be judged.

Tomorrow?s match may provide a fine opportunity for Ghana to plot a winning strategy for the World Cup campaign, yet Dujkovic is confronted with some of the frustrations his predecessors faced following the late withdrawal of some of the team?s most influential players.

Deputy captain, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Michael Essien and Daniel Edusei are notable absentees from tomorrow?s fixture against a second string Ajax side, depleted by the absence of their international stars who will be on national duty.

It is not the ideal start for a national coach facing an uphill task of crafting Ghana?s first World Cup appearance next year, but Dujkovic seems unfazed by the turn of events, even though he has justifiable reasons to question the commitment and loyalty of some of Ghana?s top stars.

However, with the strong presence of GFA Management Board chairman, Dr N. Nyaho-Tamakloe who led the delegation to Amsterdam, coach Dujkovic is in good company to help him get off to a good start.

In an interview with the Graphic Sports before his departure for Amsterdam last Sunday,Dujkovic said that he would rely on the players available tomorrow since he could not compel players to respond to national calls.

?I don?t think I?m here to give the players lessons on loyalty and commitment. There is very little a coach can do if his players are not committed to the national cause; it is the commitment of my players that would determine whether or not Ghana qualifies for the World Cup,? said the usually calm Serbian.

While Essien?s French club Olympique Lyon has strangely refused to release the midfielder,Kuffour has reportedly sought permission to attend to his sick wife and Edusei, the coach said has opted out at the 11th hour with an excuse that he is nursing an injury.

Having had short training sessions with some home-based players,Dujkovic said that he would only have a fair idea of the composition of his squad for the all-important March 27 qualifier in Kinshasa.
Stars skipper Stephen Appiah leads the foreign legion that includes such surprise names as Saudi Arabia-based Godwin Attram and Laryea Kingston who have not been part of the Black Stars team in recent years.

Other players expected for tomorrow?s game include Germany-based Hans-Adu Sarpei, Derek Boateng, John Mensah, Holland-based Matthew Amoah and Anthony Obodai who will relish playing in his national jersey against his club side.

Four years ago the Stars, led by Italian coach Giuseppe Dossena, held a star-studded Dutch national side to a scoreless draw in an international friendly in the Dutch city of Arnhem.

Tomorrow?s encounter with an under-strength Ajax pales in significance,but for Dujkovic the result is of little importance as compared to the opportunity to assess the combat readiness of his foreign legion.

While the Ajax match occupies the Serbian?s attention, the Ghanaian technical bench will be keeping the tabs on DR Congo who meet Cote d?Ivoire tonight in an international friendly in Rouen, France.

Assistant coach in charge of goalkeepers? training, Edward Ansah, has been dispatched to France to observe the DR Congo-Cote d?Ivoire match and return immediately to Amsterdam where he would furnish his boss with valuable information on the Congolese team.