FA must thread carefully - Antwi

An Executive member of Brong Ahafo United Football Club, Mr. Ransford Antwi has called on the Ghana Football Association not to rush in their quest to get a substantive Coach for the Black Stars. According to Mr. Antwi, the country cannot afford any experimentation on the part of our football Authorities and as such they should be meticulous in giving Ghana a coach who will get Ghana to the promised land (2006 World Cup).

In an interview in Sunyani, Mr. Ransford Antwi said the recent growing tension between the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon.Edward Osei Kwaku and the GFA Chairman, Mr. Ben Kuofie, over whether or not to employ the services of a foreign Coach brings to fore more questions than answers. Whilst the FA Chairman insists the problems that made Ghana to go in for a foreign Coach still remain and that Ghana definitely must go in for a foreign Coach, the Minister also thinks Ghana cannot afford another ZIVA magic which caused HIPC Ghana a colossal $45,000US. He therefore strongly endorses the policy of Domestication and is even alleged to have publicly endorsed Coach Afranie as the substantive Coach of the Black Stars.

Mr Antwi has however, proposed that the FA should organise more refresher courses for Ghanaian Coaches so as to introduce them to the new trends of analysing the game. There are many good local Coaches in the country and steps should be put in place to improve on their expertise, he said. Mr. Ransford Antwi, who represents an International Soccer Center of Argentina in Africa, believes his organisation, which runs Coaching Clinics world-wide would be ready to work with the FA in that regard. According to him, what was paid Milan Zivadonovic could send about ten (10) local Coaches for a refresher Programme abroad, and the results would be tremendous for the country.

On the question as to whether or not to maintain Coach Afranie as the substantive Coach of the Black Stars, Mr. Antwi expressed his admiration for the kind of determination and hardwork which the Coach attaches to his work and thinks that with suchqualities, it would be difficult for the Coach to fail. What is important is for the likes of Afranie to attend more refresher courses.