Soccer News of Wednesday, 17 March 2004

Source: GNA

Polo assumes duty at Olympics

Mohammed Polo, the man dubbed the "dribbling magician" in his playing days assumed duty on Tuesday as the head coach of Accra Great Olympics and called for hard work and cooperation from the players, the management committee and the supporters.

He described his appointment as "home coming" and assured the fans that his aim was to go for the ultimate when the premier league begins.

"I am coming home to help Olympics rediscover the form that made them a great force in Ghana football, but it will entail hard work and the cooperation of everybody", he added

Polo said he has been hired to coach football and he believed he had a reservoir of ideas about the job to make him succeed and bring the smiles back on the faces of the team's supporters.

On the quality of players at his disposal, the coach said he was satisfied with the composition of the team but would beef it up when the need arises, as he will be held responsible for the results that the club achieves in the end.

"I will have to take decisions that will impact positively on the team because when the team does not do well, it is the coach who takes the blame, but everybody takes the glory when there is success."

Recounting his constant clamour for the Black Stars job, the dribbling magician said he would use his tenure at Olympics to re-emphasise his position because it appears many Ghanaians do not know much about his coaching record.

"I coached Accra Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics, Dawu Youngsters and Advance Stars before going to the Emirates to coach Hatta Club for about six years and winning the league trophy twice".

The dribbling magician who had a distinctive career with both Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics signed a two-year contract with Olympics on Monday, worth over 110 million cedis. Abdul Aziz, the long serving substantive assistant coach of Olympics will partner him."