GFA must appoint coach who can inspire Black Stars - Ignatius Osei Fosu

Former Dreams FC coach Ignatius Osei Fosu has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to appoint a Black Stars head coach capable of inspiring the team’s players to perform at their best.

Osei Fosu believes the search for Carlos Queiroz’s successor should go beyond tactical credentials, with the GFA also placing emphasis on the personality, leadership and man-management qualities of the next coach.

He argues that Ghana possesses players with sufficient technical and tactical ability to understand the basic demands of international football, meaning the new coach’s primary task should be to motivate them to execute his ideas on the pitch.

“I think they have to appoint a coach who can inspire the players to play,” Osei Fosu said.

He cited Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus as examples, arguing that players of their quality do not need to be taught fundamental aspects of the game such as making forward runs or playing progressive passes.

“Nobody in the world is now going to teach Semenyo how to make forward runs. Nobody is going to teach Kudus how to make a forward pass. It is about how you inspire them to play,” he added.

Osei Fosu stressed that tactical instructions alone cannot guarantee a player’s commitment during a match.

He explained that a player who lacks the desire to make a run is unlikely to do so regardless of how clearly the movement has been explained, while a motivated player can often make the right decisions instinctively.

“If a player doesn't want to run, no matter how much you have taught him where to run to, he will not make the run. But if a player is willing to make the run, even if you have not taught him, he will make a very good run,” he said.

According to the former Dreams FC coach, inspiration can come in different forms, including a coach’s tactical approach, training methods and relationship with the players.

“If you don't have a coach who can inspire players to play, inspiration to play can be using tactics, a tactical approach. It can even be your training session. It can be your personal approach towards human beings,” Osei Fosu said.

The GFA is currently searching for a new Black Stars head coach following Queiroz’s departure, with a five-member technical search committee tasked with identifying a suitable replacement.