Italian Guiseppe Dossena will ask the Ghana Football Association to give him a second chance as Black Stars coach after his stint with the senior national team ended six years ago.

The Italian who has kept a close watch on Ghana since getting the sack under controversial circumstances in June 2000, believes he could give the Stars the stability and growth it needs after their impressive showing at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Associates of the Italian will drop his application complete with curriculum vitae at the offices of the Ghana Football Association by close of work today and are now hoping the fondness with which the Italian is remembered will work in his favour.

The GFA, in a statement on its website, said those interested in the Black Stars job should send over their applications to the General Secretary by close of work on Tuesday August 16.

While the criteria listed for the job looks way too basic, analysts say this could be one of the most competitive searches for the Black Stars job. And while the GFA has invited applications, it has not ruled using the head hunt tactics when the need arises.

Applicants, according to the GFA, must have a minimum qualification of diploma with relevant coaching experience, good interpersonal traits and communication skills, good knowledge of the African game, proven track record and achievements. Proficiency in the English language is an added advantage. Conspicuously absent, though, was the widely speculated criterion that the GFA will only consider coaches who are below 60 years of age ? which would have ruled out lcal legend Jones Attuquayefio, 62, for the job.

The nine-member committee will decide who qualifies for the job and Dossema, knowing his huge popularity in Ghana, will play to his advantage.

Sacked as Ghana coach after a 5-0 drubbing of Sierra Leone in a world cup qualifier, the Italian got most of his games in Ghana spot-on except when it mattered most.

There was the fine goalless draw against Holland then fresh from a semi final placing at the 1998 World Cup and then a 3-1 win over Cameroon in an African Nations Cup qualifier in Duoal;a but the Italian was ultimately undone by the failure of the Black Stars to impress at the 2000 Nations Cup, co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, and by widespread dissatisfaction with what was perceived as his negative approach to the game.

He has since his departure from Ghana been linked with the Ghana every time the coaching position has become vacant, after spending time with Albania as national coach and then in Paraguay where he assisted compatriot Cesare Maldini at the 2002 world cup.