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31.05.2004 Football News

Poor Preparation For WC 2006 Opener

By JOY ONLINE
Poor Preparation For WC 2006 Opener
31.05.2004 LISTEN

Ghana's preparations for the 2006 world cup qualifier opening qualifier has gotten off to the usual erratic start with only nine out of the nineteen foreign based players in camp on Monday.

The players led by Stephen Appiah included former national goalkeeper Richard Kingston, Ishmael Addo, Ibrahim Tanko, Anthony Obodai, Emmanuel Osei, John Mensah, Sule Muntari and Asamoah Gyan.

The player's were taken through a two hour training session by national team coach but the coach told JoyFM afterwards that he was unhappy with the response of players in camp.

“Given that the game is a world cup qualifier, I would have expected more players here he said.”

The coach said it was about time Ghanaians attach more seriousness to the national team. Ghanaians must decide if they want club sides or the national teams.

“It's not about me, it's not about Mariano this is about Ghana.”

The Stars will play no major friendly match before the Burkina game after the GFA pulled the plugs on a proposed friendly against Guinea in France. The problems notwithstanding, there is massive expectation that Ghana will start well in Ouagadougou and go on from there to make a first appearance at the 2006 world cup.

But Barreto says unless the country begins to prepare adequately for such major assignments, it cannot expect to win such major matches.

“Every time, the people say we must win but they never put in place the conditions that makes you win. I drew up two friendly games and all were cancelled. That makes me laugh. How can you not ensure the right conditions and still expect to win?”

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