Sports
Stevanovic Questions Black Stars’ Discipline
Ghana coach,Goran Stevanovic has questioned his side’s discipline, admitting he may not “know [his] players very well”.
The Black Stars, who finished fourth at the Africa Cup of Nations 7 saw captain John Mensah suspended after being sent off in their opening game.
They were also without Derek Boateng and John Boye for their 2-0 third place play-off defeat to Mali.
“I don’t know why in every game we had one sending off,” Stevanovic said.
“I’m sure that the people are not satisfied with fourth position, but I’m sure they are satisfied with the way we played”
“Maybe I didn’t know my players very well.
“We finished in fourth position, but it’s very strange that we always play with one player less.
“I don’t know what’s happened.”
Ghana also went into the competition with defender Isaac Vorsah suspended for the first two games and saw several players struggle for fitness.
Mensah’s return to the team after serving his suspension was hampered by injury and striker Asamoah Gyan struggled to shake off a pre-tournament hamstring strain.
“During the competition we had a lot of problems with injury, with red cards, two yellows for John Boye, maybe this is the problem,” Stevanovic told Tidesports source.
The Serbian coach said he would leave the decision on his future to the Ghana Football Association (GF A), but admitted that Black Stars fans would not have been happy to see Ghana finish fourth in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
“We need to make an analysis, calmly. I leave everything in the hands of the GFA.
“I have more time on my contract. I feel good here and I want to continue, because we’re building a strong team for the future.
“I’m sure that the people are not satisfied with fourth position, but I’m sure they are satisfied with the way we played. We dominated.
“I know how Ghana played before, and I know how we play now.”
Stevanovic was appointed in January of last year and promised, after taking the job, that he would deliver Ghana’s first Nations Cup trophy since 1982.
The former Partizan Belgrade boss has a year to run on his contract, which is due to take him up to the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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