Accra, Oct. 28, GNA - Mr Heinz Hochhauser, an Austrian born soccer coach has joined the race for the position of the head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars.

The 57-year-old coach, a native of Wels, Upper Austria's application was tendered in last Tuesday, by his agents' Al-Wahab and Zilly's Sports International who said the coach has 21 years of experience in coaching. Mr Hochhauser has had coaching stints with top Austrian division one league clubs like SV Josko Ried and Austrian Wien, former team of Ghanaian born Togolese star Eric Akoto and FC Karten where he chalked considerable successes in both the domestic Austrian league as well as in Europe.

On the national scene, the agents said he once handled the Austrian national Under-18 and Under 21 teams as well as the head coach of the Austrian Youth Football Academy.

Mr Hochhauser has also acted as the Technical Officer of the Austrian Trainer Education Courses in the University of Sports in Viena and the Soccer Training camps in Los Angeles, Chicago and Denver all in the United States of America (USA).

The Austrian who is also a Mental Trainer coach is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Mr Farouk Al-Wahab, Chief Executive of Al-Wahab and Zilly's Sports International was optimistic about the chances of his client when he spoke with the GNA Sports.

"We believe Heinz possesses the required qualities to handle the Black Stars, judging from his credentials and past experiences". He said the coach is well informed about the terrain in Ghana and Africa as a whole and expressed the hope that his client would be given the nod.

In all, 23 coaches according to information reaching the GNA Sports have applied for the job to succeed Portuguese national, Mariano Barreto.

Coach Sanzio Bahner of King Faisal, Hans Vander Plume, former coach of Kpando Heart of Lions as well as Bashiru Hayford, the current head coach of Heart of Lions, the only local coach to have applied for the job are among those in the race.