Accra, Oct. 1, Ghanadot/GNA – Isaac “Opeele”
Boateng, head coach of Tema Youth Football Club,
has dared Kwesi Appiah, assistant coach of the
Black Stars to quit his position if he is worth
more than what is being offered him by the Ghana
Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of
Education, Science and Sports (MOESS).
Appiah is reported to be on a 3,000 dollar
salary as an assistant coach of the Black Stars
and his request for an upward adjustment to
6,000 dollars, a car and accommodation have been
turned down by the authorities.
Speaking to the GNA Sports in an interview, the
outspoken coach Opeele said, “If Appiah is worth
more than 3,000 dollars then he should lay down
his tools to justify that and to prove that he
is a principled person, instead of hanging on to
the job.
“Without this, then, I believe he is just
inciting the public against Black Stars coach
Milovan Rajevac”. He stated.
Opeele Boateng backed the decision of the
Ministry to pay the coach 3,000 dollars saying,
“Appiah should take it or leave it”.
He said, the recent furore over the salary of
the assistant coach presents a perfect
opportunity for Appiah to prove to all that
local coaches are competent, principled and
capable of expressing their views without fear
or favour.
According to Coach Opeele it will also put to
rest the confusion over salaries and afford the
Stars the needed peace to concentrate on future
assignments.
“Anything short of this will be regarded as
failure on Appiah’s part and an attempt to cause
instability in the national team.” Opeele
Boateng noted.
Coach Opeele added that the Black Stars at this
moment need maximum concentration to prepare for
their game against Lesotho hence the ongoing
saga will not help the team.
According Opeele Boateng, Ghana cannot afford to
miss out of the next World Cup because it will
be a major blow to the development of football
in the country.
“Experience from the last the World Cup reveals
that the Mundial served as a learning platform
for all stakeholders in the game and we must do
everything possible to qualify for the second
time.
“The World Cup also presents a major economic
boost for the country taking into consideration
the resources generated by the GFA and the
nation as a whole, hence we must not allow
anybody to derail our efforts in picking up
another slot”. Opeele added.
Opeele Boateng also called on the public to stop
criticising the authorities for sticking to
their decision to pay the assistant coach 3,000
dollars, adding that it is a true a reflection
of the
coach’s worth.
GNA
