Stevanovic ready to take Ghana to new level
Reuters - Friday 14 January 2011, 18:49
BELGRADE - Serbian Goran Stevanovic
believes he can take World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana back to
the top of African football with a blend of experienced
overseas-based players and emerging youngsters.
The 44-year-old, appointed coach last Monday, told Reuters
in an interview that he planned to inject fresh blood into an
injury-plagued side that went further than any other African
nation in last year's tournament in South Africa.
Ghana were also beaten finalists in last year's African
Nations Cup, a competition the Black Stars last won in 1982, and
won the 2009 Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.
"That success showed Ghana's potential and I expect many of
those players to peak very soon and earn their place in my squad
as we need to inject fresh blood and improve," he said of the
junior side's triumph.
"I will only include the best players regardless of their
age or what club they play for, so I will follow the Ghanaian
league as well as candidates for the national team plying their
trade abroad."
Ghana's leading players include Chelsea's Michael Essien,
Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan, Inter Milan's Sulley Muntari and AC
Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng.
All but three members of the 2010 World Cup squad were with
overseas clubs.
SERBIAN TRIO
Stevanovic is the third Serb to coach Ghana since 2006, when
Ratomir Dujkovic guided the side to the last 16 of the World Cup
in the country's maiden appearance in the finals.
Milovan Rajevac then succeeded Frenchman Claude Leroy in
2008 and took Ghana to the last eight in South Africa.
"Ghana did exceptionally well under Dujkovic and Rajevac but
I am convinced we can play even better football because some of
the key players were either half-fit or injured during the 2010
World Cup," said Stevanovic.
"If Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari can rediscover their
best form and be their old selves again, we have a lot to look
forward to."
Midfielder Essien missed the World Cup with a knee injury
and has been on a self-enforced break from international duties
since then.
Ghana play their first competitive match under Stevanovic in
an African Nations Cup qualifier against Congo on March 27
before facing England in a friendly at Wembley two days later.
The new manager, a former Yugoslavia midfielder with good
close control and an eye for goal, was confident he could live
up to his predecessors.
"They have both left a big pair of shoes to fill but I am
confident that I can follow in their footsteps and live up to
huge expectations after Ghana's recent success," declared the
former Partizan Belgrade boss who was sacked in the latter
stages of last season.
"They made a big impact here and my endorsement shows that
the Ghanaians have a lot of faith in the quality of the Serbian
coaching culture.
"My first impression is that the Ghanaian mentality is very
similar to Serbian and it should make it that much easier for me
to attain the high standards I have set to myself and the team,"
added the manager.
"We want to win the African Nations Cup finals in 2012 and
2013 and I think it's realistic because Ghana have the natural
talent to achieve that."