Soccer News of Monday, 24 February 2003

Source: Ibrahim Sannie Daara

Bukhard Starts Work

Even before he arrives in Ghana on Thursday to start work on March 1, the new coach of the Black Stars Bukhard Ziese has started work from his Germany base by speaking with the foreign players he intends to work with.

The first thing the German coach did was to speak with the captain of the Black Stars, Stephen "Tornado" Appiah on how they can work together for the betterment of the team.They spoke extensively last week on the plans of the coach for the Black Stars.

Meanwhile it is not likely that the German coach will depart from the current GFA policy of using young players who would have matured by the 2006 World Cup, however some few senior players will be added to the squad. The German coach has already spoken to Godfred Adoube of Hansa Rostock and Lawrence Aidoo of Borussia Moenchengladbach about giving them their first caps for the Black Stars. Some players expected to be maintained by Ziese are red-hot Micheal Essien of Bastia, Derek Boateng of OFI Crete, John Mensah of Chievo, Kofi Amponsah of PAOK, Razak Ibrahim of St. Ettienne, Christian Gyan of Feyenoord and Matthew Amoah of Vittesse Arnhem.

He will tour the country extensively in search of talents for the team to revamp the squad as his emphasis will be on physique.