National coach exposes players to double tactics
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 January 2002 - Samuel Osei Kuffour, the expelled deputy Skipper of the senior National team, Black Stars arrived back home from CAN 2002 in Mali on Tuesday and declared that he would consider his future with the Stars after being humiliated by the team's authorities.
Kuffour, who plays for German giants, Bayern Munich, told reporters at the Kotoka International Airport that the charge of indiscipline levelled against him was untrue. Kuffour was expelled on Monday from the team by head coach Fred Osam-Duodu for various acts of indiscipline.
Narrating his side of the story, Kuffour said he went out to phone his wife, to inquire about the health of his baby. On his return his colleagues told him that the coach wanted to see him.
"It was during the discussion with the coach that he told me I should leave the camp and return home." He denied all allegations against him and said whatever he complained of was with the consent of the entire team and that he was surprised he was singled out.
Kuffour said most of the players complained of the poor accommodation, food and beds without pillows adding that he wondered why he was made a scapegoat. "We even have to walk 600 metres to the training ground. On apparel, I was surprised why Adidas, the kits sponsor of the team, should leave out the logo of the team from the jersey."
He was, however, hopeful of the chances of the Stars in their next match against South Africa saying that his departure should not affect the team negatively. "I hope that my fans will not be disappointed in me even though they would have wished to see me in action for the team".
Meanwhile, Ghanaian Soccer fans seem divided over the sacking of stalwart defender from the senior national team. Some soccer fans are of the view that the writing was on the wall right from the announcement of the squad to represent the country, in which most of his compatriots were left out, that Kuffour was not conditioned for the tournament. He had earlier downplayed the team's ability to perform creditably.
A number of football fans are also of the view that Kuffour was being made the scapegoat for the inadequacies of the team already known to the officials of which he justifiably complained about. The GFA, according to the fans, were only passing the buck.
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Bamako (Mali) 23 January 2002 - A miserly goal-count at the African Nations Cup has left coaches and players scratching their heads and wondering whether football on the continent is starting to shed its reputation for naivety. The steady flow of goals usually seen in the Nations Cup has been reduced to a trickle thus far, with the first round of eight group matches yielding a meagre total of five goals.
Compared with previous Nations Cups, that represents a steep drop-off. In the 2000 tournament 21 goals were scored in the first eight games, an average of 2.62 per match, while at the same stage of the 1998 competition 18 goals had been netted. So is the age of African football drawing to a close, or is Mali 2002 just a freak one-off?
Zambia coach Roald Poulsen was left in no doubt as the tournament paused for a rest day on Tuesday. “I have to be a bit careful what I say, but I think that naïve African football is over,” said the Dane, whose team held World Cup qualifiers, Tunisia to a 0-0 draw in Group D last Monday.
“Most of the teams have footballers from Europe who are used to being well organised and are used to the demands. So subtle areas like defensive positioning will of course see an improvement. “So far I haven’t seen any naïve football and that’s understandable isn’t it? In a tournament like this only one thing counts and that’s the result – you can’t win if you entertain but lose 5-0.”
“Having said that, I don’t think the teams are setting out to play negative or defensive football. Many of the matches which have ended 0-0 have had a lot of scoring chances,” Poulsen told AFP.
The Zambian coach’s words were echoed by his Nigerian counterpart, Shaibu Amodu. Amadu’s Super Eagles are one of the few teams to have got on the score-sheet so far, recording a single-goal victory against Algeria in Group A last Monday.
“What you are seeing is African players playing with a European or westernised mindset,” Amodu said. “Tactically, they are playing a very disciplined sort of football – keeping it tight, playing close, not giving much away.”
Amodu however, also blamed a lack of adequate preparation for the slow start to the tournament. “I think as the competition continues and the best teams get stronger and other teams get weaker you will see games start to open up more.”
Nigeria’s experienced centre-half Taribo West whose defensive skills have been honed during spells in Serie A, the English Premiership and the Bundesliga said the past decade had seen a steady improvement.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 January 2002 - The Ghana Amateur Athletics Association (GAAA) is gearing up for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester later in the year. As a first step, the GAAA has sent SWAG's female athlete of the Year Vida Anim to Senegal for a special training programme to improve on her time.
Mr S.S. Atuahene, Chief Coach of the team told the GNA Sports in Accra on Monday that two others, Margaret Simpson in Mauritius and Aziz Zakari in US have all been pencilled to form the nucleus of the team. The association is also planning to have a mass participation in the up-coming ECOWAS games scheduled in May to select the final team.
A source close GAAA hinted the GNA that officials are not keen on sending a very large contingent to the Commonwealth games and has thus settled on Anim, Aziz and Margaret.
Coach Atuahene said he would rely on the Internet to monitor the performance of his athletes rather than base his selection on the account of the athletes themselves.
The coach said he was networking with officials of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) and athletic associations in Europe to furnish him with the performances of the athletes.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 January 2002 - Mr Frank Shamo, head coach of the National Badminton team, has said that the Accra Stadium Badminton club in conjunction with the Badminton Association of Ghana (BAG) would soon organize doubles events to teach players the tactics of playing the game in doubles.
Speaking to the GNA Sports on Tuesday, he said playing the doubles event is a difficult part of the game hence the decision by the two associations to undertake the exercise to sharpen the tactics of players for the All African games in Morocco and the Commonwealth games in Manchester this year.
He said the event, which would take place from 1-2 February at the Accra Sports Stadium Hall is open to all males and females and all veteran players in Accra, Tema, and Koforidua. Mr Shamo said the tournament is being sponsored by Mr Valdo Abrukuah, Chairman of the Accra Sports Stadium Badminton club.
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