Brazil's Coach Handled Ghana in 1967

Parreira's divided loyalties as looks back to Ghana stint

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will experience a tinge of divided loyalties when his side step out for a last 16 encounter against Ghana. Parreira's challenge is to become only the second man in history after Italy's 1934 and 1938 champion Vittorio Pozzo to win the World Cup twice, having led the Selecao to glory in 1994.But standing in his way on Tuesday in Dortmund will be a country where he cut his coaching teeth more than 30 years ago.

In 1967, he was a physical trainer who took over the reins of Ghana for the 1968 African Nations Cup, where they lost out to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) by the only goal in the final in Ethiopia, having beaten the same rivals in the group."I was coach of Ghana in 1967 and 1968. I especially remember this African Nations Cup which we played in Ethiopia. I have happy memories of that team."

Parreira's presence in Ghana at the time was part of a sports development aid project which focused largely on football.He started his stint at club level there with SC Asante Kotoko, who promptly won the 1967 title and reached the final of the African Champions Cup.

That showing was a decisive factor in his getting the national team post but in 1969 Parreira decided to return to Brazil, where he took up a backroom staff post with the Vasco da Gama club.After Brazil polished off Japan 4-1 in their final group game while Ghana were ousting the United States Parreira said he was looking forward to facing his former African employers."I'm looking forward to it - they were the first national team which I coached."

Ghana are making their World Cup bow but Parreira said he could not understand why a country with so much talent had not qualified before."Ghana should have been at the finals a long time ago. It was a lovely surprise to see them go through and fully deserved. "They played very well against Italy and are technically very strong. They are a power in the African game."

He added he did not expect the Ghanaians to adopt an over-cautious approach against the defending champions but go for the jugular."I've not seen them hang back in this tournament - they like to go forward. They have their own style and won't change it because they're facing Brazil," Parreira forecast, but added "we will be prepared."

Parreira, 63, is one of the coaches with the broadest experience at the World Cup.As well as his multi-faceted Brazilian and Ghanaian experience he was in charge of Kuwait during the 1982 finals, while he led the United Arab Emirates at Italia 90.In 1998, he led out Saudi Arabia but was sacked after the first two games.