Dossena could be on way out

DUROSIMI THOMAS, ACCRA

GHANA (goalnetwork) -- The Ghanaian government and the football federation are in dispute over whether to renew the contract of Giusseppe Dossena as national coach.

Sports Minister Enoch Mensah has said the government could no longer afford Dossenas $12,000 salary after his contract expires on July 31. Mensah has proposed that a local coach succeed the Italian.

The GFA wants to extend Dossena's contract to 2002 to secure an unprecedented level of consistency after the steady hiring and firing of coaches over a decade.

Dossena and the Sports Minister are not on the best of terms after the Italian refused to let Mensah visit the players in their dressing room during an African Nations Cup match.

Mensah has criticised Dossena for failing to take the Under-23 side to the Olympics and to lift a fifth Nations Cup title. Mensah, however, said that only economic reasons will end Ghana's experiment with Italian football.

Former international Cecil Jones Attuquayefio has been mentioned as a possible successor. But Attuquayefio was recently sacked as coach of the Under-20s after a row with the GFA. Attuquayefio has steered Hearts of Oak to a 15-match unbeaten run in the league.

The GFA is not happy with the recent development and majority of the Black Stars players are keen to have Dossena lead their World Cup campaign. Dossena's future with the Black Stars was questioned after he was approached by Italian Serie C side, Catania.

Though Dossena did not sign, it is clear that his lifeline in Ghana will be a convincing win against Sierra Leone in a World Cup qualifier on July 9.