We're Focused On Swaziland Game - Plavi

Goran Stevanovic - Black Star Coach

Goran Stevanovic, the coach of Ghana’s senior male football team, the Black Stars says he is happy that his players are focused on their match against Swaziland, their opponents for Friday’s 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

According to Coach Stevanovic the positive attitude from the players has cut out his job for him as he prepares the team for the qualifier before they leave for London to play Brazil in a mouth-watering international friendly on September 5.

“ It is also a difficult task to psyche up the players to play a team they have already beaten 3-0 in the first leg. Thankfully, they know what is at stake and I’m happy they are not taking it for granted,” Stevanovic, nicknamed Plavi, told the Daily Graphic yesterday.

He was also happy with the work rate of the players, saying, from their attitude, ‘they remained focused on the Swaziland match and are not detracted by the international friendly against Brazil.”

“Playing Brazil is glamorous but the real deal is Friday’s game and that is what we are focusing on, getting all the three points,” he stressed.

Indeed, all his players agreed that they could not take Swaziland for granted despite the fact that the Swazis had nothing much at stake even if they won.

“We need the three points to consolidate our lead at the top while Swaziland know they can not qualify even if they win but definitely, they will try to be party spoilers but we will not allow them to ruin our celebration,” John Paintsil, said.

Almost all the players invited for the match have reported to camp and had their first training session last Monday. Yesterday, they held their first training under floodlights as Friday’s game will be played in the evening.

The players in camp include Richard Kingson and Ernest Sowah, both goalkeepers; Paintsil, Isaac Vorsah, Samuel Inkoom, Jonathan Mensah, Sulley Ali Muntari, Derek Boateng, Lee Addy and Daniel Opare.

Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Anthony Annan, Rabiu Mohammed, Asamoah Gyan, Prince Tagoe, Dominic Adiyiah, debutant Albert Adomah and Nathaniel Asamoah all arrived last Monday while Rennes’ John Boye, who was called at 11th hour as substitute for injured captain John Mensah and goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey and the Ayew Brothers, Dede and Jordan, were expected last night.