Amos Annan
Following the Black Stars’ stellar performances at this year’s World Cup, there is no doubt that Ghana’s current crop of players have the potential to achieve even greater things in the future. However, the drive to success could be derailed in a repeat of that which happened after the World Cup in Germany in 2006. Then it was Ratomir Dujkovic who resigned from his post after being credited with helping Ghana excel. Now another Serb has left the coach’s job – Milovan Rajevac. And while it is true that the circumstances surrounding both exits are different, both have had the same outcome of beginning a frantic hunt for the job from many aspiring coaches.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) recently announced that Rajevac had quit his post with the Black Stars in favour of a more lucrative deal with Saudi-based club Al Ahly Jeddah. This may have come as a blow to many Ghanaians, who were hoping that the Serb would sign the contract extension he had been stalling on, following the many successes he chalked with the national team, most notable of which was leading the Black Stars to the quarter-finals in South Africa. Still, it was unsurprising, considering the delay in appending his signature to the new improved four-year deal offered to him by the GFA. But it was not a case of Rajevac leaving the country high and dry though, as even when his contract had expired on 17th August, the Serb still went ahead to manage Ghana to victory in their first Africa Nations Cup qualifier this month.
So, after two relatively successful years in charge, a replacement will have to be found, and the search is proving to be quite a keenly-contested one. As always, the debate is whether to appoint another foreign coach or to stick to local talent. Even though all the four continental championships annexed by the Black Stars were with local coaches at the helm, recent qualifications for the World Cup have been under the influence of foreign bosses. Thus, it is a big ask for the GFA to decide who the most suitable and competent coach would be, regardless of nationality. Their desks have already started to be flooded by numerous applications, about 30 of which are from Europeans, and others have also openly declared their interest, while still more are being vociferously recommended for the job.
The frontrunner, and favoured amongst the majority of Ghanaians is Ghana-born former France defender Marcel Desailly. His appointment would really be a glamour deal for the GFA considering the fact that he was a World Cup winner himself with France in 1998 and has also won trophies with AC Milan and Chelsea. But then, the argument against Desailly is strong and centres on the fact that his successes came as a player and not as a coach, and as such he does not have the managerial experience needed for such a post. The 42-year-old is also reported to have twice turned the job down when it was offered to him in the past. And despite having declared his interest this year, it does then look a bit of a gamble, but the debate over the nationality of the coach can at least be quelled by opting for Desailly.
Another Ghanaian whom many also tout as an ideal replacement is the current African Coach of the Year, Sellas Tetteh. Such a local coach, who handled many in the current squad in their club football in Ghana, would be a good investment, considering his history with local side Liberty Professionals. Not only is the 53-year-old a local coach, but he has ample international experience, being the current coach of the Rwanda national side. Also in the plus column for Tetteh is the fact that he acted as assistant manager for the former coach Ratomir Dujkovic at the 2006 World Cup and took on the job himself as interim coach for the first four matches of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, of which he won three and lost one. His enviable past experience includes another spell as assistant in the 2008 Nations Cup and being in charge of the Under-23 side and assisting for the Under-17 side in 2003 and 2001 respectively. However, it was perhaps winning the Under-20 World Cup with Ghana’s youngsters in 2009 that really put Tetteh on the map. The experienced coach has though not shown much interest in the job, stating that he would prefer to concentrate on qualifying Rwanda for the 2012 Africa Nations Cup, but would consider his position if the GFA contacted him.
Two other local coaches also boast sufficient experience and have thrown their names into the hat. These are newly-appointed Under-23 coach David Duncan and local manager Herbert Addo. Both have proven track records at club level and no shortage of advocates for the top job. Duncan engineered the shooting up of Ashantigold from relegation candidates one season to second place in the domestic league last season. Duncan was also Under-17 coach in 2005 when he led the side to second place in the African championships in Gambia. Herbert Addo, though, is known for the remarkable feat of leading Aduana Stars from promotion to win their first ever Premier League crown in their debut top flight season.. Despite both having a decent enough pedigree, a step up to coaching the Black Stars is a big one, but either can make a strong case for consideration.
The candidates don’t end there however, and there is the surprise of former Black Stars coach Ratomir Dujkovic also showing an interest in his former job. After resigning from his post as Serbia Under-21 coach, and upon seeing the promise shown by Ghana, Dujkovic no doubt would like another crack. What is strongly in the Serb’s favour is the fact that he led the nation to their first ever World Cup finals in Germany in 2006, but what most will remember is his unceremonious exit from the job three weeks after the tournament. Although stating that he was concerned about his health, others have cited media criticism as the main reason behind the Serb’s exit. And it is still looks improbable that the GFA will contact him, even after expressing an interest.
There is no doubt that the GFA has an unenviable task, especially amid growing interest in the job, both locally and in Europe. A decision should be made either in time for the next Nations Cup qualifier in October or before the Black Stars match in March. As the men in suits meet to decide just who should succeed Rajevac, the debate over local or foreign rages on throughout Ghana. And while it still remains possible that the GFA may once again delve into the sea of applicants and select a virtual unknown, as was the case with Rajevac and Dujkovic, this seems unlikely. With one of the most talented sides in Africa, whoever ends up in the Black Stars dugout, will have riches envied the world over.
