A member of the Ghana Football Association Executive Committee, Augustine Asante says that the search for Kwesi Appiah’s successor as Ghana head coach is not over.
Asante, who is the Chairman of the Brong Ahafo Football Association, told Kumasi-based Angel FM that coaches on the standby list would still be interviewed by the Search Committee, noting that extra care must be taken in selecting the next coach for the Black Stars.
“As you know, there were five coaches shortlisted for the job, with two coaches on the standby list. Two of the coaches pulled out and so now that the remaining three have been interviewed, we also need to interview those on the shortlist. We need to take our time in selecting the next coach for the Black Stars and so it is important that we go through the whole process thoroughly.”
Asante also told Angel FM that had Maxwell Konadu put in an application, it was possible that he would have been considered for the job, adding that the Black Stars assistant coach is still in charge of the team until a new coach is appointed.
“Maybe Maxwell wasn’t interested in the top job, but if he had applied with the rest of the coaches, he would have been considered for the job itself. As it is, he remains in charge until all the processes for appointing a new Black Stars coach are exhausted.”
Asante’s comments would therefore suggest that the GFA would seek to interview Ricardo Gareca in the near future.
The ex-Argentina international, sacked by Palmeiras earlier this year, was on the standby list along with Bernd Schuster when the original five man shortlist was announced by the GFA.
Marco Tardelli and Patrick Kluivert both withdrew their interest in the job, leaving a shortlist of Avram Grant, Juan Ignacio Jimenez and Michel Pont. Schuster also denied interest in the job after he replaced Tardelli in the shortlist, effectively leaving Gareca, who is yet to be interviewed.
It is unclear whether another of the applicants would be asked to make himself available for interview, with former Black Stars head coach Milovan Rajevac missing the cut for the shortlist.
