I Haven't Extended My Contract - Le Roy

Ghana's Black Stars coach, Claude Le Roy has quashed claims about any two-year contract extension with the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

He told GNA Sports in Accra on Monday that "I have not extended my contract with Ghana and I don't know why people are lying."

Le Roy has been in the news for supposedly falling out with his employers after been alleged to have applied for a vacant South African coaching job last week.

It is believed that the coach extended his contract with Ghana after the Nations Cup last February where the Black Stars earned a bronze. But the coach told GNA Sports that "I have not signed any contract extension with Ghana and neither have I applied for the South African job.

"It is very sad that everyone in the whole world read that I had extended my contract to coach the Black Stars and up to now it's not true.

"I have not seen nor received any contract and let alone sign one."
Coach Le Roy rebuffed stories about a supposed friction between him and the GFA after the news of his application for the South African job came to light.

"How can the GFA get angry at something I have no idea about? he quizzed.

"I have principles that I hold dear and one is not to apply for a job whilst under contract."

Le Roy whose contract with Ghana runs till the end of June, however, opined that applying for a job with only a few months to end his contract would not have been ethically wrong.

"It is acceptable for any coach to apply for a job when his contract has a few months to run out."

The Frenchman told GNA Sports that the story about the said application and contract extension are cooked to soil his hard earned reputation.

"The only time I ever came face to face with the South African Federation was when they approached me in Paris in early 2006 to inform me I had been short-listed alongside Carlos Alberto Parreira for the job."

Meanwhile Claude Le Roy has called up 25 players as Ghana gets ready for the weekend's round of matches in the African Nations Championship.

Ghana plays against Togo in the second round qualifier with the first leg match coming off at the Ohene Djan Stadium on Sunday.
The Black Stars progressed to the second round stage after securing a 4-1 aggregate win over Niger last month.

Ghana are now a few games away from reaching the finals of the Africa Nations Championships, a new tournament designed by CAF for only home-based players of its member countries.

Ivory Coast will host the maiden competition from the 22nd of February till the 8th of March 2009.
Ghana team:

Joseph Addo (Hasaacas), Fatau Dauda (AshantiGold) and Ernest Sowah (Tema Youth)

Prince Anokye and Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko), John Boye and Daniel Acquaye(Heart of Lions), Hanan Gyiwah (Real Tamale United), David Addy (Wa All Stars) and Kofi Agyare (Kessben FC), Ebo Andoh (King Faisal)

Edmund Owusu-Ansah (Heart of Lions), Jordan Opoku and Francis Akwafo (Asante Kotoko), Kassinu Ghandi (Liberty Professionals), Ekow Benson (Tema Youth), Taufiq Jebril (Hearts of Oak), Francis Mantey (Great Olympics) Samuel Mantey (Seven United)
Salifu Latif (Liberty Professionals), Eric Bekoe (Asante Kotoko), Osei Banahene and Dominic Adiyah (Heart of Lions), Agyemang Badu (Berekum Arsenal) Baba Iddi (KessbenFC)