Desailly, don't over-stretch your case

We football journalists love the search for a national coach. One day there is a favourite, the following he disappears; we are often allowed to indulge in wild and often informed speculation. And whatever decision is made we will have a thing or two we dislike about it.

Scepticism is an integral part of journalists' genes. In Ghana it seems to live in the collective DNA of football fans especially when it comes to the issue of football coaches.

So since Marcel Desailly laid bare his intentions last week there has been no shortage of those questioning if he is up for it, if his lack of experience will not be too much of a gamble and if he can take the Black Stars to the next level.

And often it has sounded like it's a debate that has split opinion straight down the line. There are those who saw Desailly achieve everything there in world football. We celebrated with him when he travelled to Accra and made the rounds to top sporting and football officials with a replica of the world cup trophy after he had helped France win the title in 1998.

We saw him play a central role in 2000 when they added the European title to it. And we did witness how in his spell at Olympique Marseille, Chelsea and AC Milan he demonstrated ability and leadership skills in equal measure.

His supporters say his profile, arguably higher than any other Ghanaian football with the possible exception of Abedi Pele will suit the Ghana job fine. And when his lack of coaching experience has been pointed out, those backing his bid have been quick to point out how the likes of Johan Cryuff, Jurgen Klisman, Pep Guardiola, Didier Deschamps and now Laurent Blanc have all made the transition into coaching.

There is no denying that in that sense the Ghana Football Association who TWICE in the past were willing to hand responsibility of the team to think along those lines even if there are those within the football governing body justifiably unconvinced by the wisdom of the move.

But the naturalised Frenchman has powerful friends at the Ministry of Youth and Sports determined to push his case and to his advantage see no reason why he cannot do what many others have done and make the step up from a successful player to a good manager.

Nothing wrong with that. For all the talk of imposition from the ministry, few would raise a voice if they dropped Jose Mourinho at the GFA offices or found the money to employ a Marcello Lippi for instance. So so much for principles even though you would want a clear understanding at both the Ministry and the GFA on the choice of coach.

That is where Desailly must seize his moment. And to that he will have to as my former boss and editor of the Africa Sports newspaper Kwabena Yeboah says understand the setting he will be in.

The man regarded as the voice of football says if Desailly is not careful, his demands will alienate those prepared to back him for the Ghana job in the firm belief that 'he is one of us.'

The demands may not be earth shattering but by Ghana standards they are huge. Rajevac was on 45,000 dollars. Desailly wants 70,000 dollars and wants to come with his own assistant in the same manner than Claude Le Roy came into town with his own physical trainer at a cost of 10,000 dollars to the Ghanaian tax payer.

It is becoming a fashionable trend lately. Coaches, it seems walk in pairs in tow where ever they go with their trusted lieutenants.

But why fix what is not broken? Why upset a system that has been in place for so long and worked so well? They may not get the credit but one of the reasons the Black Stars has functioned so efficiently over the last few years has been because the back room staff has done a brilliant job.

Edward Ansah was one of the best goalkeepers for Ghana and has had the job of keeping the countries goalkeepers in shape.

Kwasi Appiah captained Ghana with distinction during his time as a defender before Abedi Pele took over. There are those who ridiculously question his brains as a coach and yet Black Stars insiders find him a valuable asset and a man that the squad down to the last man have a lot of reverence for.

If this country is unwilling as at yet to hand it's national team to any of the many ex-players, it owes the future of football in Ghana to keep them as mighty close to the team as possible because it is all part of a vital grooming process.

It is something Desailly must deal with. We have done pretty good with a Ghanaian assistant in place, often men whose understanding of the Ghanaian game is flawless. There is no reason to change that now.

And given that this will be his first crack at coaching, Desailly must face up to some home truths. He is putting his huge reputation on the line. If he gets it wrong, it could damage his coaching career for good so it is understandable that he wants the money and the setting to be right. But the truth also is that Ghana is taking a huge gamble. It does not make much sense that on the back of that they will be making him the highest paid coach in the country's history.

If he is truly committed to the country he says has been close to his heart, then money should be no object to this. You don't get that sense that is the case at the moment.