GFA still searching for new coach

The Ghana Football Association has assured the public that it is doing everything possible to ensure that the right person is engaged as the National Coach for the senior National team. It has therefore, asked the media to desist from making publications and utterances that will disturb the smooth transaction.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Ben Koufie, the GFA said, it was in close contact with the Portuguese Football Association and the coach's Former Club for any further information concerning him. The statement said the GFA would welcome any helpful information about the Coach Mariano Barreto as well as the company Foot Elite-Intercontract Marketing before the final contract were signed before the end of January, this year.

It said the GFA was in contact with two German coaches who said four of them worked together as a team and that they would take over fully all the technical responsibilities of the national teams. "They were asked to furnish us in detail with their package as well as with all the financial implications for our study." It is significant to note that the four Germans wanted the Ghana Football Association to employ all the four of them at the same time as a team of technical experts for the national teams. "After weighing the two options, we thought it prudent enough to opt for the Portuguese Coach after we are satisfied and assured of his credentials after having made thorough investigations."

The statement said Mr Mariano Barreto was therefore invited to come down to Ghana on January 20, 2004 with the manager of Foot Elite for further discussions before executing the contract. "The Ghana Football Association has since made some contacts including the Portuguese Football Association and the former club of the coach for further information, if any". The statement said "with this in view, the football association will be happy to receive any information about the coach as well as the company, Foot Elite-Intercontract Marketing, and that such an information will be helpful to the association before the final contracts are signed".