Ex Ghana striker Tanko Ibrahim says he has plans to chart his own course as a coach when he ends his apprenticeship under German trainer Volker Finke.

The 37-year-old is currently an assistant to Finke who is coach of the Cameroon national team.

Tanko struck a strong working relationship with the German trainer since his arrival at Freiburg as a player in 2001.

Finke took his protégé along to serve as his assistant when he was appointed coach of Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds in 2009.

Tanko, who has benefited immensely from the mentorship of the German coach, however, recognizes the need to make his own name in coaching once his apprenticeship under Finke comes to an end.

“Yes, I have plans to go on my own because Volker Finke now is 67, and I don’t think he will continue to coach after the next two years or so,” he told MTNFootball.com.

“So then it means I cannot remain under him forever. I have to make the step up. “But then the most important thing is to learn a lot from him since he is one of the best coaches in the world.

“He coached in the Bundesliga for over 16 years so he is the best person to learn from.”