Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko forward and 1982 African cup nation medalist Samuel Opoku Nti has stated that very soon, foreigners will acquire full control over our football since Ghana Football Association (GFA) is more interested in offering them the Black Stars coaching job, which they have failed in ending our 40-year AFCON trophy drought.
Speaking during an interview with Accra based radio station Happy FM to Wafa-Odiasempa-Kwame Oware, Opoku Nti expressed his disappointment at the rate at which expatriate coaches are appointed for the Black Stars job.
“For me, I’m not a fan of expatriate coaches even plying their trade in Ghana. Looking at our style of play for the national team and history backing us, do they know our terrain? As a nation, we have to take a bold step; let us take our ex players to coaching school. Like how C. K Gyemfi, Ben Kofi and Aggrey Fin were all sponsored by the nation to Germany for coaching lessons and this is what we call this is our own. Why is it that off late, we think expatriate coaches could help us”.
Also known as Zico in football circles, Opoku Nti also said; “Check the history of our clubs like Kotoko, Hearts Of Oak, King Faisal and Ashgold. Which expatriate coaches have achieved something meaningful for these clubs? You may disagree with me, but this is my opinion. Records have shown that no expatriate can help us. Money given to expatriate coaches, half of it will not be given to local coaches if they offer them the job. But we want our local coaches to perform well, and we called that patriotism.”
The former Servette and Aarau center forward mentioned that; “Local coaches would not have been paid for more than seven months, coaching our national team. We will never treat an expatriate coach like this, everything will be well organized to enhance their performances. Their money is double what the local coaches take. They always look happy and comfortable compared to our local coaches on national assignments”.
It is very painful to repeat the mistakes that we have made in the past. Let us try another method if this is not working for us. Why is it that we think the expatriate coaches are better than our coaches. Because of their color or their Curriculum vital (CV). Then a time will come foreigners will be our FA president. I don’t know what these expatriate coaches have done for the nation and still people want them in our football”, he concluded.
Brent Kojo Amenuvor
Ewurama Acheampoma