Ghana FA gives update on vacant Black Stars coaching job

Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, has given an update on the vacant Black Stars coaching job.

Ghana is without a coach following the sacking of Serbian gaffer Milovan Rajevac after the four-time African Champions poor showing at the just ended 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The West African powerhouse exited the tournament from the group stage following a poor run of results including losses to Morocco (1-0); Comoros (3-2) and a 1-1 draw with Gabon.

The domestic football governing body are in search of a new coach ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier against Nigeria next month.

Earlier report in the local media suggested the FA has settled on former Brighton coach Chris Hughton to lead the Black Stars.

But according to the FA scribe, there hasn’t been any talk with Chris Hughton regarding the job.

“My last conversation with the [GFA] president was that the talks [with Addo] have been positive, but it comes with certain conditions as well. Yes, the FA appoints, but government takes care of the expenses and what have you, so you need to come back and engage government and see if you would be at par in terms of decision making. From then you can progress.

“I don’t know about any such decision [regarding Houghton’s appointment]. As far as I’m concerned, we haven’t met the ministry. I know that we are stakeholders in development. The government is recognized in providing infrastructure and providing funds for the development of football, but as technocrats, we are responsible for the decision making. These are things we read in the media every day.

“You wake up to stories in the press that government is trying to impose a coach on the FA. I don’t remember sitting in any such meeting since our last meeting with the Honourable Minister of Sports, which called for the dismissal of the technical team and also the dismissal of the management committee. That has been our last engagement as a body.”

Twum said currently, the Black Stars coaching job is available to all prospective coaches who have what it takes to transform the fortunes of the team.

“I cannot say he [Houghton] is not on the table because once a job becomes vacant, it’s open to all. Personally I’ve received 17 calls from agents and representatives of coaches. My WhatsApp platform has been bombarded with messages from unknown people and then also the official email address of the FA has as well received loads of messages and they come in on a daily basis. So once a job becomes vacant, there are a number of people who’d express interest in coming in. So I cannot say Chris is not on the table. He is a coach who’s available, and who may be would like to come in as the next coach of the Black Stars,” he stated.