Herbert Addo drums up zeal to coach Black Stars

December 17, 2010
Accra, Dec. 17, GNA - Ghana's ace football coach, Herbert Addo at the weekend made a stake in the country's search for a substantive coach for the Black Stars, promising to deliver excellence, which he says is his professional brand.

The position became vacant after Serbian Milovan Rajevac threw in the towel after the World Cup quarter finalists.

The June 24, 1951 born coach said his national assignment to support the national team started when he was given the mandate to build a new Black Star in 1985.

Speaking at a media interaction in Accra, Coach Addo said the fact that he was entrusted with the job at that early stage of his career clearly showed his potential and prospect.

Coach Addo said his appointment would bring on board multi-faceted benefits to Ghana, which includes enforcement of discipline and respect among the technical bench and playing body and insisting on professional autonomy.

"I would be resolute in calling on the football authorities to create the right environment for effective coaching and would stand my grounds to kick against interference," he said.

Coach Addo said as a Ghanaian he would consider the national purse when negotiating for his remuneration and would not demand to be accommodated since he lived in his own home.

"Unlike foreign coaches I eat banku and other Ghanaian dishes and that is cost saving for Ghana. I will however like to be paid honourably for my professional work."

Coach Addo says he has a personal relationship with all the players of the national team selected to be groomed and they all know his approach to tactical and self discipline.

He said a key criterion in coaching was experience and good communication skills, good managerial acumen and desire to work under difficult conditions.

He noted that the criticism often levelled against local coaches that they do not command the aura of respect to deal with foreign professional players would not apply to him.

"These criticisms can apply elsewhere and not with Herbert Addo," he stressed.

"After going through the mill with numerous successes with local clubs, I believe the time was nigh for me to assume the full responsibility of the senior national team."

He said many top Ghanaian players like Mohammed Polo, Abdul Razak, Opoku Nti, Anthony Yeboah, Abedi Pele all passed through hishandsand could do the same with the Essiens, Muntaris, the Kevin Prince Boatengs and the rest, provided the Football Authoritywould help create the right atmosphere for him.

"Herbert comes to the table with the best coaching experience that span a period of more than three decades - from the national under 23 team, the Black Meteors then to the Black Stars; through to all the leading clubs in the country as well as building of unknown teams on the local front to formidable sides.

"I have the envious record of guiding teams like Sekondi Hasaacas, Kumasi Cornerstones and Tema GHAPOHA to West Africa Football Union (WAFU) glory and guided Obuasi Ashantigold to its first African Champions League finals where they succumbed to Raja Club Casablanca through a penalty shoot out."

The process of selecting a coach was expected to end by the middle of December 2010 to enable the new coach start working on the Black Stars by January 1, 2011; however recent developments between the GFA and the Economic and Organised Crime Office could delay the selection.

The search committee of the Ghana Football Association last named five coaches who were short-listed for the last phase of the process of naming one for the senior national football team.

The list includes Addo, Portuguese Humberto Jesus Cuello, Serbian Goran Stevanovic and Can Vanli.

Coach Addo who is married with five children attended Avery Hill College of Education in London,Lancing College Brighton, Sussex, England and Holmewood House School also in England.

He was Assistant Head of Peckham Manor Boys Secondary School in London between 1972- 1971.

Mensah's experience spans Accra Hearts of Oak Football Club (FC), KumasiAsante Kotoko FC and Maranatha FC, Togo.

He attended various CAF and FIFA training courses in Ghana, Nigeria, Italy and Brazil.

GNA