Sports
Anthony Baffoe remains on Black Stars search committee as members seek assurances
Anthony Baffoe remains a member of the five-man committee tasked with finding Ghana’s next Black Stars head coach, despite earlier reports that he had withdrawn from the process.
Baffoe and some other members were unhappy that the composition of the committee was announced before they had formally accepted their appointments. However, that issue has since been resolved, with the committee continuing its work.
The committee was established by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation following Carlos Queiroz’s departure on October 1. It is chaired by former GFA Vice-President Fred Pappoe, with Baffoe, former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah, high-performance specialist Faisal Chibsah and legal practitioner and football administrator Agbesi Dzakpasu completing the panel.
The members bring different areas of experience to the assignment. Pappoe was appointed chairman because of his extensive experience in football administration and governance, while Baffoe brings his experience as a former Ghana international and his current role as General Secretary of the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana.
Appiah provides experience from his playing career as a former Black Stars captain and his involvement in the national team setup. Chibsah brings expertise in high-performance management, while Dzakpasu offers legal and football administration experience.
The committee has been mandated to identify, assess and recommend a suitable candidate for the vacant Black Stars position, with its report expected by Friday, October 9.
However, the members are seeking assurances before completing the process. Their concern is that they do not want to recommend a coach only for the prevailing conditions within Ghana football to prevent that coach from succeeding, leaving the committee members to face criticism for the appointment.
As part of the discussions, the committee is engaging Sports Minister Kofi Adams over the proposed establishment of a national team supervisory board. The body would be expected to help establish the systems and conditions within which the next Black Stars coach will operate.
The idea is to ensure that responsibility for the team’s performance does not rest solely on the coach or the search committee, but that the necessary structures are in place to support the appointment.
The committee is expected to hold a final meeting to resolve the outstanding issues. If the requested assurances are not secured, more than one member could reportedly consider leaving the process.
Source:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet
