Accra, Feb. 10, GNA - The German Embassy in Accra, last night organised a special reception in honour of two Ghanaian coaches - Frimpong Manso and Mumuni Gamel - who benefited from a three-week scholarship coaching programme in Hennef, Germany.

Manso, a former deputy coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Gamel, helmsman of Real Tamale United were among 30 coaches (14 from Africa and 16 from Asia and South America) from third world countries who profited from the yearly programme.

The programme, which began on September 2 and ended on October 1, last year, was organised by the German Football Association and sponsored by the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Germany.

More than a dozen Ghanaian football coaches have benefited from the opportunity, which is given to young enthusiastic but qualified coaches from developing countries whose standard in the sport is unquestionable. Apart from soccer, coaches for other disciplines, notably tennis and athletics have over the years profited from the exercise.

Unfortunately, Ghanaian soccer coaches had been absent from the Hannef programme since 1998 until last year when the Embassy had to lobby for its restoration to Ghanaians.

The Ghana Football Association used its own criteria to pick the two coaches with the intention that the two would assist the national teams on their return.

However, apart from Gamel who is deputy to Francis Oti Akenteng at the national under-20 level, Frimpong Manso's expertise is yet to be tapped.

Ironically, Alhaji Rashid Bawa, acting minister of State at the Education and Sports Ministry told the gathering "what the two have learnt will help the nation qualify for the 2006 World Cup to be staged in Germany".

Present at the ceremony was Anthony Yeboah, two times goal king of the Bundesliga and former player of the Black Stars and some football administrators.