Is Milo Rajevac losing his touch?

milo is under pressure

Ghanasoccernet columnist Nii Ayitey Tetteh is asking questions over the competency of coach Milovan Rajevac ahead of January's African Cup of Nations in Angola.

 
My little cousin Gabriella has aspirations of becoming a lawyer some day. She likes to play court now and then with me.At present am seated a little awkwardly in my sofa and replaying the day's events especially the just ended joint 2010 African and World cup qualifier between Ghana's Black Stars and the Eagles of Mali at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

 
Little Gabby sneaks up from behind and tags my shirt and without letting her speak, I reply NO! No court Gabby, not tonight! Why not? She laments.

 
I am just not in that kind of mood, I reply curtly. Like she so ever does, her next words absolutely got my attention. 'Let's take coach Milo to court' she said (referring to Black Stars coach, Milovan Rajevac).

 
Interesting! I responded 'and what would the charge against him be my dear?' She immediately searches her brain for a smart answer but then shrugs her shoulders and just for a moment she seemed confused. Then out of the blue, she utters "Gross Incompetence!"

 
"Perfect!" I responded and continued “but it's late now and you have to go to school tomorrow, so we will play court tomorrow okay?”.

 
Exhibit A-Milo's Report Card:
 
It would be recalled that in August 2008, the Ghana Football Association appointed Milovan Rajevac, a UEFA professional licensed coach from Serbia to assume the coaching duties of the senior national team, the Black Stars.

 
The Black Stars have since qualified for both the 2010 Nations Cup and 2010 World Cup under coach Milo's stewardship.

 
But your Lordship, I dare wish to state categorically that qualification was secured by a stroke of good luck and individual brilliance more than astute technical direction.

 
To save the people of Ghana future heartaches and bad investment, I recommend that coach Milo's appointment be terminated immediately due to gross incompetence.

 
The man simply does not possess the technical ability to lead the Black Stars to a 5th African Nations cup triumph in Angola and a decent showing at the World Cup in South Africa.

 
My lord, I present for your attention Milo's record whilst in charge of the Stars as Exhibit A to further our arguments.

 
Since taking over, Milo has played 16 matches, winning 7, drawing 4 and losing 5 matches, which represents a 44 % success rate.

 
This is a very poor record considering that the Stars have in essence not beaten any top rated sides lately and under Milo, the team has lost 31% of its matches and plummeted to 38th on the FIFA rankings from the previous position of 30th when Milo took charge.

 
A word to the wise is in the records for all to see

 
Exhibit B-Report on the Ghana-Mali game
 
Though there are several games to support our argument, we are tendering in a report on the final 2010 African and World cup qualifier in Kumasi played on November 14, 2009 as exhibit B because it is the most recent and we should be able to recollect it.

 
On this day, the Stars played a very disjointed game and this particular game exposed longstanding problems that have been associated with the Black Stars over the past year.

 
At this juncture, Counsel for the plaintiff would like to call Milovan Rajevac to take the witness stand and answer a couple of questions.

 
Mr. Milovan Rajevac, would you explain to the court why after a whole year in charge you have not been able settle on a particular formation for the Stars.

 
Are you using a 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-3-2 formation; are you sure the players have assimilated it well, or is it more a question of deployment of the personnel?

 
On Sunday, the players especially Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah who were supposed to have given the team width on the flanks rather drifted to the middle, thereby congesting the midfield and making our play too narrow.

 
Can you tell the court why you even had to start Appiah in the first place when he is not match fit ahead of a player like Kwadwo Asamoah?

 
Do you remember that when the Stars won those two crucial away matches in Sudan and Mali, Kwadwo Asamoah and a certain Opoku Agyemang were absolute key?

 
They huffed and puffed and gave their opponents no breathing space with their speed and flair, qualities that were missing from the game on Sunday.

 
Is it safe to say that you do not have a game plan at all? Milo, are you not sending bad signals to other players that form does not really matter and rather that mere reputation can guarantee you a starting role?

 
How would players who are competing for roles feel?

 
The likes of Prince Buaben, Bernard Kumordzi and Hans Sarpei would be very encouraged indeed! Is it any surprise that a player like Sulley Muntari plays with such careless abandon?

 
Milo, you are on record to have stated that there are no untouchables in the team, right, but your deeds have not matched your words.

 
I put it to you that until form becomes the deciding criterion by which players are selected into the national team; the team would continue to struggle.

 
Milo, can you tell the court why you have not been able to solve the weakness at the left back position since you took over?

 
In Sunday's game you switched a natural right back Samuel Inkoom to play that role. Did you not try it against Benin at the same Baba Yara Stadium without success?

 
Why did you repeat this mistake then? Is it that you are willing to accommodate mediocrity? What was the purpose of inviting Bechem Chelsea defender Lee Ardy to try out at left back?

 
In fact, can you tell the court why you even invited Aziz Ansah only to discard him after two training sessions? Was he that bad?

 
If he was, how can we trust you on monitoring and player call ups, Mr. Milovan? One could infer that you probably did not make the call up independently and if not, then let me ask you; Are you really in charge?

 
To compound issues, I even understand that you were in the company of other players to grace Michael Essien's charity on the eve of the match.

 
Earlier in the week, while training at the Ohene Djan stadium, another player invited his friend, Ibrahim Attiku, to train with the team.

 
My Lord, this man is not in charge. Is it not an indictment that without John Mensah, the Stars in their last three matches have conceded 7 goals, some through basic mistakes at the centre of defense?

 
You mean to tell us that good old Eric Addo and Jonathan Quartey are the worthy substitutes that you can rely on?

 
If we are conceding such a high number of goals against the likes of Japan and Mali, then God help us when we come up against teams of the caliber of Spain and Ivory Coast.

 
Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, can you imagine if the coach in charge was one of our own? He would have been long gone right?

 
Milovan Rajevac is simply incompetent! My lord, I rest my case for now.

 
Arguments for Milo:
 
Counsel for the defense walks elegantly towards Milo and asks him a question.

 
"Coach Milo, can you tell the court what your major achievements have been while in charge of the Blacks Stars?"

 
In very shaky English Milo replies "I place second in Championship of African Nations (CHAN) and I qualify to World Cup."

 
Counsel walks slowly towards the Jury and then the Judge allowing the answer to sink in and then calmly closes his case saying "no more questions, your Lordship"

 
The Verdict Well ladies and gentleman of the Jury, cast your votes now! Court is in recess and will reconvene after the lunch break.

 
The gavel just came down and as per the charge of incompetence brought against Milovan Rajevac, coach of the Black Stars, you can vote COMPETENT OR INCOMPETENT, let me know.

 
NII AYITEY TETTEH
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