Sports News of Thursday, 8 March 2012

Source: GNA

Stevanovic’s fate with Ghana deferred by another week

Black Stars coach, Goran Stevanovic will learn his fate next week after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) deferred its decision on his status following a meeting on Thursday.

The latest development follows a meeting of the GFA Executive Committee where the future of the coach was extensively discussed.

Information pieced together by GNA Sports on Thursday indicates that the GFA will meet with Stevanovic next week before announcing the final decision of either retaining him or give him the sack.

The Serb is expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday next week ahead of the meeting with the Federation on Wednesday before the expected announcement, which could define whether Ghana will be back in the market or stay with the under-fire trainer.

The GFA a fortnight ago said it will announce the fate of the Coach last Wednesday (March 7) but pushed it by 24-hours citing the meeting of the Executive Committee.

GFA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi at the time claimed the GFA required more time to do consultation with other stakeholders before defining the way forward with the 45-year old trainer who failed on his promise to deliver Ghana a Nations Cup trophy after a three decade wait.

Coach Stevanovic’s two year renewable contract elapses next January, same month for the 2013 African Cup of Nations slated for South Africa.

The coach has stayed under the microscope for the last three weeks following his inability to deliver Ghana the trophy he promised over the last one year that he has been in charge of the Black Stars, ranked second in Africa.

Opinions have been divided on whether to hang on to the coach or fire him and to part with an estimated compensation fee of 360, 000 Euros, which will account for the remaining months salary that his contract will be running through.

Stevanovic is currently holidaying in his native Serbia following a one-week break approved by the GFA. He succeeded compatriot Milovan Rejevac after the latter walked out after leading the Black Stars to a quarter final berth at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.