"Sir" Jones is Africa's Best Coach

Black Stars deposed coach, Cecil Jones Attuquayefio has been named the best coach in Africa by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Choice FM, an Accra radio station broke the news on Monday morning and this was confirmed by a representative of the organisers, TV Africa.

Coach Attuquayefio beat French coach Pierre Lechantre who guided the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to win the Africa Nations Cup co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria last year and Jean Pual Akono who led the Cameroonian Olympics team to win an Olympic soccer gold.

The award ceremony has been scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africa on May 22 this year and would also have three times Africa Best Footballer of the year Abedi Ayew Pele as the guest of honour.

Coach Attuquayefio was the helmsman when Accra Hearts of Oak won the local league and FA cup as well as the Africa Champions League and the Super Cup.

Shortly after these great achievements, he was invited to double as the coach for the Stars and Hearts of Oak.

His relationship with the Ghana Football Association was short-lived as he was given the sack for poor performance and divided attention.

Coach Attuquayefio lost his first three matches after taking over as the Stars coach but bounced back to draw with fancied Nigeria, posting a purely local side, and followed up by thrashing DR Congo 3-0 both in Accra.

Attuquayefio said on radio that he was grateful for the award but thought Hearts' 5-1 thrashing by Etoile de Congo last Sunday in this year's Champions League preliminary match in Brazzaville could mar his chances.

Hearts have been nominated for the African Team of the Year for 2000 and Africa Fair Play Award while top marksman Ishmael Addo has also been nominated for the Young African Talent.