The search for a coach for the Black Stars intensifies as it nears the deadline which is October 29 2004.

Information reaching the ADM Sports desk and corroborated by the GFA's general secretary Kofi Nsiah in an interview is that the FA has received some applications but interestingly no local coach has put in an application for now.

It may look not too strange to keen followers of the game of football in Ghana as some have attributed this to the manner in which the FA has treated past Ghanaian applicants.

Others are of the view that the nation's strong like for foreign coaches have given rise to this latest development.

Mr Kofi Nsiah refused to let out the names of the coaches that have so far applied for the job which has been vacant after stopgap coach multi-system man Sam Arday returned to his employers at the Gomoa Fetteh Soccer Academy.

But a source at the FA secretariat disclosed the nationalities of some of the job-seekers - Portuguese, Brazilian, Italian among others.

When some Ghanaian coaches were contacted they said, "When we apply there is a ninety-five percent surety that we will not even get short-listed.

Another top notch Ghanaian coach said, "If the authorities want us to possess rich CVs as our counterparts from the other parts of the world then they have to send us outside to study more to enrich the development of the game in Ghana," but was quick to add that even most of the foreign coaches appointed for the job in the recent past did not possess the CVs their employers are looking for.

In a related development, the Ghana Football Association is yet to receive a reply from FIFA in respect of the charges filed against absconded coach Prof. Mariano Barreto for deserting his post as the technical head of the Black Stars.

During this time of the selection of a coach for the national team, it would be prudent for the development of the game if the feuding parties in the on going impasse at the FA smoke the peace pipe.

At least maturity should reign supreme over the pettiness being displayed and the section of the media who have chosen to act, as judges and jury in this case should know better in this era of national reconciliation