CK Akonnor's sack healthy for Black Stars, says veteran trainer J.E Sarpong

Former Asante Kotoko, Ebusua Dwarfs and Great Olympics head coach, Joseph Emmanuel Sarpong has emphatically said the decision by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to terminate the appointment of Coach Charles Akonnor and his two assistants was a step in the right direction.

Akonnor and his two assistants were on Monday sacked following their uninspiring performance.

According to the gaffer, it was a good decision from the GFA to fire the coach.

“It was the association which employed the coach, so the GFA has the right to sack a coach if he is not performing to satisfaction,"he told GNA Sports.

The 76-year-old Technical Director of second-tier side Akosombo Krystal Palace said the three-day ultimatum to employ a Head Coach and assistants would give the three-member committee ample time to deliver.

Coach Sarpong, who has managed top clubs in Ghana including Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, Liberty Professionals, Aduana Stars among others said, “Looking at the time, GFA needs a coach who can do the job”.

On the team’s performance under Coach Akonnor, he said, the performance of the players in the last two 2022 World Cup qualifiers was bad, stressing that, “there was no competition in the team and the desire to play was absent with no cohesion and consistency in playing body”.

Coach Sarpong opined that coaches need to be careful with the kind of players they invite for national assignments.

"They must be sure the players have what it takes to deliver to satisfaction and have the desire to die for the nation," he added.

Meanwhile, the three member committee put together by the Executive Council is expected to announce a new head coach for the team today.

The Black Stars are currently second in Group G of the African qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and will face Zimbabwe in October.