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Soccer News of Thursday, 29 June 2006

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Duya Quits!

... "I've had enough. I should move on"
The Ghana coach, Ratomir Dujkovic, said he will resign following the team's exit from the World Cup, a Serbian newspaper reported Thursday in Belgrade.

"Of course, I'll return to Ghana, which wants to continue our cooperation," the Serbian coach was quoted as saying by the Vecernje Novosti newspaper. "But I think it was enough. I should move on, there are new challenges awaiting."

Ghana, unseeded and ranked 48th by FIFA, upset the Czech Republic, 2- 0, and beat the United States, 2-1, to reach the second round in its World Cup debut.

But without its suspended midfield star Michael Essien, the Black Stars lost, 3-0, to Brazil and were eliminated on Tuesday. Dujkovic said he had been thrown out of the game at halftime for complaining to the referee as they walked into the tunnel.

He said he told the referee "that it would be better for us if he put a yellow jersey on."

Dujkovic cited as most upsetting Brazil's second goal - scored in first- half injury time by Adriano, who Dujkovic said was offside.


"It hurts a little that the referees put themselves on the side of the stronger team, not giving us the opportunity for a surprise," Dujkovic said. "An offside goal, quick yellow cards ...but it's stupid to talk about it now when it's all over. It was a great tournament, I'll remember it my whole life."
Dujkovic took over Ghana in 2004, bringing some consistency to a team that had averaged a new coach every six months.
The former Red Star Belgrade goalkeeper, who made his name in Germany, had earlier coaching stints in Burma, Venezuela and Rwanda. He had only just kept his job after Ghana's early exit at the African Cup of Nations in late January.
Asked in an earlier interview whether he would take over as Serbia coach, Dujkovic said "with pleasure" - but added that he doubted he would be asked.
Serbia-Montenegro - the final vestige of old unified Yugoslavia - was knocked out of the World Cup after losing its three first-round matches: 1-0 vs. the Netherlands, 6-0 vs. Argentina and 3-2 vs. Ivory Coast.