Black Stars lose Bonhof?

Just when it seemed the country’s football regulatory body was preparing to announce formally the engagement of a technical brain of the highest repute, the dreams of seeing German Rainer Bonhof leading Ghana to the Holy Grail fizzled out at a time he was expected to reach a deal with his prospective employers at the weekend. The former deputy national coach of Germany was given the kiss of death last Sunday after watching the team he hoped to take charge of, and basking in the assurance of becoming Ghana’s eighth expatriate coach in the last decade. However, it took a not-too-vintage 4-1 demolition act by the Stars over Zimbabwe for the paymasters to rethink their position on hiring Bonhof at the cost of $15,000 a month to the taxpayer and a $50,000 signing on fee.

Investigations conducted by Graphic Sports reveal that despite the overwhelming choice of Bonhof by the GFA who had rolled the red carpet for him, the Ministry of Youth and Sports had maintained it would do nothing to block the F.A’s choice, if the soccer controlling body can raise the needed funds.

The FA had indicated it would explore areas in sponsorship and the FIFA development fund for monies to top whatever government would provide.

And following weeks of tough negotiations between the German and the FA, both parties arrived at a deal that officials say would be within the limits of national budget. The arrangement would have seen the cost of Bonhof’s service partly cushioned by FIFA’s Development Fund. Nevertheless, this arrangement did not appear feasible and there still is the compulsion on the FA to fall heavily on state resources before clincing the deal.

However, in the prevailing tight economic condition and last Sunday’s massive win by the Black Stars under local coach Fred Osam- Duodu, there has emerged a difficulty in convincing government, according to an FA source. The Minister and other government officials, expected to give the deal the stamp of approval and present it to cabinet for final approval, appear convinced that an indigenous coach is well placed for the task, given the present circumstances.

According to the FA source who demanded anonymity, other highly influential government officials who witnessed Osam-Duodu guide the Stars to demolish the Southern Africans strengthened