Soccer News of Wednesday, 17 May 2006

Source: GNA

Send Black Stars to Brazil -Tabi

Kumasi, May 18, GNA - A sports enthusiasts has suggested to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ghana Black Stars World Cup Planning Committee to send the team to Brazil at least for a two weeks intensive training before embarking on the World Cup tournament in Germany next month.

Nana Kofi Tabi who spoke to the GNA Sports in Kumasi on Tuesday said it was necessary that the Stars undergo two weeks or 10 days training in Brazil to polish their skills and techniques, especially on defence, body swerving, attack and goal scoring tactics. He said while in Brazil, the team could stay with Santos FC, the mother club of Brazil='s soccer dynamo Pele or any of the league champion clubs for intensive training in their preparation towards the tournament.

Nana Tabi suggested that the Stars should also play against some South American national teams during their training programme, adding that the Planning Committee can even invite Mexico's national team to Brazil and play at the Santos FC stadium. He said Ghanaian teams do well whenever they train in Brazil because of their natural play pattern similar to the Brazilian style offootball.
Nana Tabi who cited instances to buttress his point, said the first time the Black Stars trained in Brazil during the first Republic under the late Ohene Djan administration, they returned to conquer African national teams and won the African Cup on three consecutive times. He added that the Stars went ahead to win the Cup for the fourth time during the Third Republic.
The sports enthusiasts pointed out that all the Ghanaian teams, including colt clubs tend to copy the Brazilian style of play especially after the return of Stars from their training tour in Brazil. He said on the local scene Sekondi Eleven Wise was able to conquer bigger clubs like Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Accra Hearts of Oak, Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs and others to win the league after they had returned from camping in Brazil.
Nana Tabi said Ghana's most popular coach Sam Addy also developed his strategy of 'multi-system coaching' from the Ghanaian clubs style of play that was similar to the Brazilian soccer.