Burkhard "Zero" Ziese Fired ?

According to the newspaper, STATESMAN, Burkhard “Zero” Ziese, the German-born coach of the Black Stars, who could not get his players to put on their scoring boots has been booted out of office.

The coup to bid him was plotted at the office of the Ghana Football Association and executed with precision yesterday as a necessary pre-emptive measure to save the battalion of national players from deserting the camp.

“He has been given notice of termination of appointment as provided by his contract”, confirmed by Kofi Nsiah, the General Secretary of GFA yesterday.

According to him, the clause 10 of the contract between Herr Ziese and the GFA provides for a one month notice of termination of the contract to be given and the zero performer’s dismissal takes effect from September 5.

Giving reasons for the termination, the FA says that their continued association with him has become embarrassing as he continues to antagonize the players.

Burkhard failed to qualify the national team for the 2004 African Cup of Nations and has presided over a string of poor results.

The senior national team has not won a game under his tenure even though the national Under 23 team, the Black Meteors recorded a home and away victory over a weakened Liberian squad in the qualifying series for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Both matches were played in Ghana after resurgence of rebel activity rendered Monrovia unfit to host the game.

Burkhard who rode on the back of public opinion to land his second spell as the helmsman of the Black Stars angered his employers and the majority of Ghanaians by keeping faith with veteran goalkeeper Edward Ansah who was clearly past his prime.

His management style at the team level has also sparked off a fiesta of speculation that he is not on good terms with many of the senior national team players who accuse the German of disrespecting them.

The GFA cited this ill feeling between the coach and the players as one of the reasons for terminating his contract.

The FA’s General Secretary says Burkhard’s continued relationship with the national team is becoming embarrassing to the Ghana football Association.

“How can you antagonize the players who are expected to deliver the goods for the team”. As it stands Burkhard’s termination takes effect from September 5. But it is unlikely the German will accept his sack without a fight.

He claims he was expressly signed to qualify Ghana for the 2006 World Cup in his home country Germany and that the 2004 African Cup of Nations was not the target of his hire.

Burkhard engaged the FA in a protracted tussle at FIFA for unlawful dismissal in 1991 and only let go after he was paid compensation.