Sports
German Winfried Schafer named as Black Stars Technical Advisor and GFA Director of Football
Seasoned and vastly experienced German manager, Winfried Anton Schafer, has been appointed as Technical Advisor of the Black Stars of Ghana and Director of Football for the Ghana Football Association.
The German tactician, who won the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2002, will be expected to work closely with Head Coach Otto Addo to build a winsome Black Stars team.
Winfried Schafer assumes the role having excelled in a managerial career spanning a little over 40 years working with a number of National teams (Cameroon, Thailand and Jamaica) as well as European clubs including Borussia Monchengladbach, Karlsruher SC, VFB Stuttgart and Borussia Berlin.
One of Schafer’s most notable achievements is winning the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2002.
Schafer has also coached in the United Arab Emirates, working with top clubs namely Al Ain, Al-Ahli Dubai, Baniyas and Al-Khor. His last coaching role was with Al Khor.
In his new role, Schafer will not only provide technical guidance but also oversee the development of football in Ghana as the Director of Football.
This role will also require Schafer to, in conjunction with the Technical Directorate of the GFA, develop and implement long-term strategic plans for the Association, provide technical guidance in line with Ghana’s football philosophy, provide general leadership for youth development and ensure consistent high performance by teams.
His experience coaching at both club and national team level will undoubtedly be valuable in this position.
Winfried Schafer enjoyed a successful playing career spending seventeen seasons in the German League system playing a total of 438 matches and scoring 62 goals.
He played for Borussia Monchengladbach, Kickers Offenbach and Karlsruher SC.
It is anticipated that Schafer’s rich and diverse experience will bring great value to the Black Stars and the FA as the nation looks to seeing the resurgence of the team.
GFA Communications
Ashantigold SC has terminated the contracts of three members of its technical team with immediate effect.
The affected officials are head coach and technical director Abdul Karim Zito, assistant coach Ernest Okyere, and goalkeepers’ trainer Robert Dabo.
The decision was announced in a statement signed by the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Edward Kwasi Akuoko.
According to the statement, the decision was taken following a consultative meeting by the Interim Management Committee on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The club says a caretaker coach has been appointed to steer the affairs of the team until a substantive coach/technical director is appointed.
Management expressed gratitude to the affected officials for their contribution and service to the team and wished them well in their future endeavours.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
England captain Harry Kane says it was extra special to be presented with the Ballon d’Or by one of his childhood idols.
Kane made the comment after receiving the prestigious award from former Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario.
“Ronaldo was one of my idols growing up,” Kane said.
The Bayern Munich striker described the moment as surreal, being honoured by a player he looked up to as a young footballer.
Kane was announced as the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium, marking the 70th anniversary of the award and the first time the ceremony was held outside France.
The 33-year-old beat stiff competition from second-placed Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal to win his first ever Ballon d’Or.
He becomes the first Englishman to win the coveted individual award in 25 years since Michael Owen in 2001, and only the fifth Englishman ever after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.
He is also the first Bayern Munich player to win the award since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
Kane won the award after a remarkable season in which he scored 61 goals in 51 club matches, the most a Bayern player has ever scored in one campaign.
Including England matches, it was 73 goals plus eight assists in 65 matches. His 73 goals is the second-highest single-season total ever behind Lionel Messi’s 82 in 2011-12.
Despite the goal haul, Kane did not win the Champions League or World Cup, with Bayern losing 6-5 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals and England losing 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final before finishing third.
The award was presented by Brazilian great Ronaldo Nazario, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner himself, adding what was described as a special dimension to Kane’s historic achievement.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
