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Another look at the local coach
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• Ocloo – Made a case for local coaches
Disciples of the domestic game in Ghana have been asking a plethora of questions as to whether securing the services of an expatriate coach is the solution to the success of club football.
This interrogation may have been triggered by a current event where an Assistant Coach of Hearts of Oak – David Ocloo, took charge of the club to beat a full-time Head Coach of rival side Asante Kotoko – Seydou Zerbo, in the betPawa Ghana Premier League (GPL) clash last Sunday in Accra.
There was a beguiling piece of drama ahead of the 1-0 victory over Kotoko.
Indeed, two days ahead of the blockbuster, specifically on Friday March 3, disgruntled fans of Hearts chased out the club’s head trainer – Coach Slavko Matic, from the club’s sports complex at Pobiman, in the north-western part of Greater Accra.
The Serbian coach arrived at the training ground, evidently, to prepare his boys ahead of the week-20 titanic clash against their sworn rivals only to realise that he was not going to be allowed in by a band of fuming Hearts supporters who, apparently, were unhappy by the club’s bad patch in the ongoing Ghana Premier League (GPL).
Hearts had lost their last two games at the Accra stadium against Aduana Stars and Great Olympics – results that threw the supporters into a fit of fury.
Noticeably, the Phobians looked to have cut a frustrated side heading into the game, with Matic, having had to watch the big game at home – the police having cautioned the Serbian trainer to stay away from the club until further notice.
The nit-picky situation compelled his assistant – Ocloo, to step into the ‘hot’ seat for his boss. Ocloo knew all-too well that he was confronted with a taxing task of upstaging Kotoko for the ‘double-do’ glory. Nevertheless, he took a ferocious dash of the challenge and knocked it off brilliantly – beating Kotoko for the maximum points – and swaggering away with the Presidential Cup as well.
It was generally agreed that Hearts’ performance on the day was magnificent as the team created an avalanche of opportunities that blew many people away.
One lesson learned was that we should not downplay the quality and talent of the local coach. True, it brings to the fore the braininess of local coaches – who for many years, have been looked down upon – as if they were a bundle of chaff.
Instead of treating our local coaches with disrespect and disparagement, let us rather put in place a strong system to ensure that their technical skill and know-how as well as their general appreciation of the game, is upgraded.
Once they are upgraded to the required internationally acceptable standards, they would be able to rub shoulders with their colleagues in the other parts of Africa and the world at large.
Our coaches, indeed, have demonstrated overtime that with a little push, they would mushroom into the best technical brains many clubs and national teams would want to scramble to have.
In all their continental conquests, Ghanaian clubs have always relied on the local sweat merchants for glory. No foreign coach was able to conjure the magic!
Kotoko’s first conquest of Africa in 1970 was spearheaded by a local coach – Edward Aggrey Fynn, a feat that was repeated 13 years later by Ibrahim Sunday.
Similarly, Coach Jones Cecil Attuquayefio led Hearts to its first continental feat – a CAF Champions League glory in 2000. Four years later, the same sweat merchant inspired the Phobians to CAF Confederation Cup success by upstaging rival side and compatriots – Kotoko, in the grand finale in Ghana.
The ball is now in our court – as to whether to continue relying on the expats or build on the competence of our own.
It is sad that we do not treat our own with reverence but are all-too prepared to make the expat coach very comfortable and yet they produce almost next to nothing.
The Kotoko coach takes home a US$3,000 monthly net salary plus other mouth-watering incentives. Hearts’ coach Matic is said to be pocketing something far more than his counterpart.
Juxtapose this with what our local coaches are taking home, and you would understand the picture being portrayed here.
King Faisal, Hearts, Kotoko, in the past seasons, have dashed for the signatures of foreign coaches who end up leaving with the same flight with which they dashed in – most often achieving next to nothing!
Is that the way to go?
By John Vigah
Accra Hearts of Oak and Dreams FC will headline Matchday 5 of the Ghana Premier League when the two sides meet at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium tomorrow, with both clubs seeking a result that could shape their early season campaign.
The encounter comes at a crucial moment for the two sides with the Phobians looking to recover from their first defeat of the campaign and Dreams still searching for their first victory after four matches.
The Rainbow lads started the season strongly but were beaten 1-0 by Karela United last weekend, while Dreams suffered a slim 1-0 defeat to Bechem United.
Hearts had earlier recorded impressive victories over Berekum Chelsea and Bibiani Gold Stars before drawing goalless with Bechem United, leaving the club with seven points from their opening four matches.
Their defeat at Karela United, however, means they will be under pressure to quickly return to winning ways against a Dreams side determined to make home advantage count.
Dreams, meanwhile, have endured a difficult beginning to the campaign and will see tomorrow’s fixture as an opportunity to change their fortunes.
The ‘Still Believe’ side have collected points from only their opening draws and are yet to register a victory, making the meeting with one of the country’s traditional giants an important test of their character.
Elsewhere, Vision FC will welcome Bibiani Gold Stars to the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex today, with both teams looking to strengthen their positions.
Vision have shown encouraging form in the early stages, while Gold Stars will be seeking a response after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to newcomers Port City FC.
At the Debibi Presby Park, newly promoted Debibi United will face defending champions Medeama SC tomorrow.
Medeama finally opened their account with a convincing 4-1 victory over Basake Holy Stars and will be hoping that the result marks the beginning of a stronger title defence.
Port City FC will continue their impressive debut campaign when they host Bechem United at the Daasebere Boamah Darko II Park.
Basake Holy Stars will attempt to recover from their heavy defeat to Medeama when they host Berekum Chelsea at the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena.
Aduana FC will welcome Swedru All Blacks to the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park after producing one of the weekend’s most notable results last Sunday.
At the Kpando Stadium, Heart of Lions will host FC AshantiGold ’04 in another meeting between sides coming off victories.
FC Samartex 1996 will meanwhile welcome Young Apostles FC to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena, with the home side seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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Tuesday, September 29, 2026 would go into the annals of Ghana football as one of the darkest days for the Black Stars.
In an AFCON 2027 qualifier against The Gambia, the Black Stars did not only break the hearts of the fans, but conceded a defeat that left followers with sleepless nights.
Coming from a Matchday 1 defeat to the Elephants of La Cote d’Ivoire in Bouake, the outcome of the second game against The Gambia was one that was non-negotiable.
It had the ability to spark a revival to contend for one of the slots for the next AFCON showpiece.
The Gambia is a formidable side but definitely, not one to have frustrated Ghanaians to watch in pain and awe the Black Stars lose a game from a winning position.
That is a possibility in the game of football but when the stakes are high in such cases, it becomes unacceptable to the fans.
And grievously has Carlos Queiroz answered the massive call for his resignation.
At his post-match press conference, he made it clear that bowing out was the easiest decision but insisted that would not solve the myriad problems facing the Black Stars.
For the coach to be fired two days after that declaration raises a lot of concerns as he seem to be aware of existing problems the FA may even not know.
Unfortunately, coaches over the years have always been sacrificial lambs in situations of this nature but when he talks about particular problems affecting the team, his sack leaves much to be desired.
That aside, it is important to also take another look at the country’s pool of players, both local and foreign based.
Some of us have been advocates for forming the Black Stars around the ever-present local players who may lack the skill, finesse and flamboyance believed to give the foreign based players the edge over their local counterparts.
The locals, however, compensate that with their commitment and dedication.
Sadly, it appears this consistent call have fallen on deaf ears and no one wants to give any attention to that.
If the fear is that results would be poor, then that would be no excuse again following outcomes of the Stars in their last two games.
From what was witnessed in Bouake and Accra, one can confidently boast that there isn’t much difference between the foreign based players and the locals.
If there is any, it would probably be the treatment given to the two sets of players.
The call on the FA now is to give major consideration to the local players. Any coach that sees no good in the local players must have no business handling the national team.
That does not also shut the door on the ‘foreigners’. We witnessed how the early 90s teams were beautifully blended to have a formidable team.
It is time the FA goes back to the basics. With the locals, there can be more camps, leading to improved cohesion. Any foreign based player invited must settle into the team quickly and make a difference. That is the only way to rescue the Black Stars from its free fall.
By Andrew Nortey
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