Sports
Ex Black Stars coach Renard hails Jordan Ayew’s progress
Two-time AFCON winner and former Black Stars trainer, Renard Herve, has described Ghana striker, Jordan Ayew as a promising striker capable of projecting the Black Stars and Africa on the global stage in future.
Renard, who managed the Crystal Palace striker at French club Sochaux in 2014 as a 22 year-old, hailed the player’s progress and described him as the future of the Black Stars.
“He is improving because it is not easy to play in the Premier League. He is working very hard. He is clever, doesn’t talk too much. Jordan is in my heart and I like his spirit. I am very sure from now till the end of his career; he will do a lot of great things.
He added that it was his wish to see Jordan and his senior brother Andre Ayew, win the AFCON before ending their careers because they deserved it.
Quizzed about taking charge of the Black Stars in the future, Renard who had a stint with the Stars as one of the assistants to Claude Le Roy in 2008 did not rule out that possibility.
“Coming to coach Ghana will be a fantastic challenge but no one knows tomorrow. Ghana was on top but now a little bit down. The potential, however, is still the same. One day it will be your management and government that have to decide if we want to bring this man”, stated the Frenchman.
Speaking to the local media, the former Black Stars trainer, Herve Renard, also welcomed a return to a coaching role on the continent, suggesting that he would relish an opportunity to coach in Africa again.
Renard, who won the 2012 and 2015 African Cup of Nations with Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire respectively, vacated his post in charge of Morocco’s Atlas Lions after a disappointing round of 16 exit to Benin at the 2019 AFCON.
But Renard who is now in charge of Saudi Arabia, welcomed another stint on the continent to which he has a longstanding attachment.
“I have a new challenge with Saudi Arabia and that is my focus. But of course I will come back to Africa one day to win something with a country, one that hasn’t won the AFCON for a very long time.
Sharing the formula for his AFCON success, Renard attributed his feat in African football to hard work and luck.
“I was a bit lucky but I also worked hard. It’s strange to have won the AFCON with two completely different teams.
“Luck plays a part in football but you have to provoke the luck. You build the luck. You have to build everything in football. If you don’t have good discipline, a good squad, a good bench, you can’t achieve that. For a tournament like the AFCON, it can be won from the bench because as a coach you sometimes have to understand things that players don’t.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
The Board of Directors of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club on Sunday, July 5, 2026, inspected the club’s technical centre at Kpobiman as preparations for the new season gather pace.
The visit was to assess the facility, identify urgent areas needing attention before players return for pre-season, and review progress on the club’s restructured academy system.
When fully operational, the Hearts Africa Football Academy will be the permanent home for Hearts of Oak’s youth teams, Under-19, Under-17, and Under-15.
The new integrated model is designed to create a clear pathway for player development and will make Hearts one of the first Ghana Premier League clubs with a full residential academy.
Beyond football, Kpobiman will also serve as the club’s new administrative headquarters.
The current office at the Commercial Centre will relocate as part of the plan to have all football operations in one place.
Speaking during the inspection, Board Chairman and Majority Shareholder Togbe Afede XIV described the academy as a landmark investment. He was impressed with the progress but stressed the need for proper maintenance.
He tasked Managing Director Julius Ben Emunah and management to maintain a strong maintenance culture.
Togbe Afede XIV also assured that remaining work, including an on-site hotel, event centre, finishing of courts, mini stadium, dressing rooms, and other infrastructure will be completed.
He said Kpobiman will become one of Ghana’s finest football development centres.
Board members present included Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, Akwesi Agyeman, Vincent Sowah Odotei, Samuel Inkoom, Alhaji Hussein Sulemana, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, and Julius Ben Emunah.
The Board expressed confidence that completing the project and the new academy structure will build a strong foundation for sustainable player development.
The Kpobiman facility features world-class amenities including a 108-bed dormitory, staff bungalows, gym, swimming pool, golf course, tennis and padel courts, basketball court, mini stadium, two natural grass pitches, and a floodlit artificial turf.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has urged the Black Stars to learn from their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign and stay focused on upcoming assignments after Ghana’s defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32.
Addressing the team after the game at Kansas City Stadium, Hon. Adams praised the squad’s performance despite the exit.
“We have what it takes to partake in every World Cup and get out of the group stages and even go further,” he said.
The minister added that “So, we didn’t make it. Our wish was that we would have carried the day. But we played so well and I believe we don’t regret we went in. Everybody is congratulating us that we have a good team. It means you exhibited something good on the pitch.”
The Sports Minister called on the players to treat mistakes made in the tournament as lessons for the future.
“What we need is, the very few mistakes that we made becomes a learning platform for all of us. You become a better player of yourself in the various roles that you play in the team. It should not dampen you,” he said.
Mr. Adams echoed Coach Carlos Queiroz’s team-first philosophy and reminded the players that national duty continues with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers ahead.
He added, “Like the coach said, he has a team and not individual skilful players. So, we came as a team, we played as a team, we are returning as a team. And to continue our individual careers also. So, it is not the end of international competitions. We are going to be calling on you, and you would have to be responding to these calls for the various qualifiers that are ahead of us.”
He also had a message for the players regarding public reaction to the team’s exit.
“The country is grateful for what we have done. Let’s learn lessons out of whatever situation that arose and brought us to this point. I know as we leave here, those of you who love to go on social media, you will see all manner of postings and all manner of analysis and all manner of criticisms,” he said.
“Please and please, you are professional ballers. Let no such comment dampen anyone. If for anything, it should motivate you to do more. Those who are watching, they will do their own analysis. Don’t let it dampen any one of you. It should motivate you to be a better person of yourselves,” he advised.
“You came as a team, you have played as a team, you have done what we can do and we have reached this point. We are grateful for the service you rendered the country and the country is grateful.” The Minister added.
