Accra, Dec. 15, GNA – Ghana Black Stars head coach, Goran Stevanovic has defended his regular monitoring of Ghanaian players in major football leagues abroad.
The Serb has come under constant criticism for his continued stay abroad since assuming the reigns of the team, but he has described the choice as positive.
Addressing a press briefing in Accra on Thursday to unveil his provisional squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, coach Stevanovic observed that a greater chunk of the Black Stars team play abroad, hence his decision to monitor their output consistently.
He explained that whilst away, his deputies James Kwesi Appiah and Edward Ansah were deployed on similar tasks regarding the local Premier League.
The Serb mentioned some products of his monitoring of players abroad such as Adam Larsen Kwarasey and Abu Mohammed both of Swedish side Stromgodset and German-based offensive midfielder Charles Takyi.
The trio have been named in the provisional 25-man squad for the Black Stars that will embark on a campaign of South Africa next year ahead of the tournament.
“I have been monitoring Adam Kwarasey Larsen, Takyi, Masahudu Alhassan and Mohammed Abu over the past few months during my trips abroad.
“In the case of Adam Larsen and Mohammed, I followed them for two months before taking a decision on them.”
Coach Stevanovic added that he is abreast with the talents in the local league on the matches he has visited and other similar exercises undertaken by his assistants.
“I have a very good picture of the local league. There are several talented players in the league but their only problem is experience.
The Stars coach is expected to drop two players after their training camp in South Africa before the team enplanes for Gabon for the tournament scheduled for January 21 to February 12, 2012.