Sports News of Monday, 18 November 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Black Stars management committee member calls for patience with coach Otto Addo

Head Coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo Head Coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo

A member of the management committee for the Black Stars, Akwesi Agyeman, has called on fans to exercise patience with head coach Otto Addo.

After Ghana was eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations, calls for Otto Addo’s resignation have grown louder, as many believe he is not the right man to lead Ghana.

In a group featuring teams such as Niger and Sudan, Ghana managed three draws and two losses during the qualifying campaign under Otto Addo’s leadership.

However, in an interview on Hitz FM, Agyeman emphasized the importance of consistency in the technical team and highlighted the negative effects of frequent coaching changes in recent years.

“Over the last few years, how many coaches have we had? Kwasi Appiah came and went, then CK Akonnor, then Milovan Rajevac, and Otto Addo’s first and second spells, as well as Chris Hughton.

“Speaking with the FA president and Executive Committee, their plan was to have a long-term strategy. They believed Otto Addo was suited for this because of his potential to commit to a long-term project. At the time, he had taken us to the World Cup, but due to his commitments with Dortmund, he returned there after the tournament,” Agyeman said.

According to Agyeman, firing Addo now would hinder Ghana’s chances of competing in the World Cup.

“He’s been brought back to build something for the long term. If you consider the long-term vision, consistency is essential. Football is about results, yes, but right now, in just a few months, we have two critical games against Chad, home and away, to keep our World Cup hopes alive. I don’t think this is the right time for a change,” he argued.

In the meantime, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced an Executive Council (ExCo) meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 20, 2024, to deliberate on pressing matters, including the Black Stars’ failed AFCON 2025 qualification campaign.

FKA/MA