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| Osam-Duodu Gets Starlets Job |
12/29/2006 |
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Everything now points to the fact that veteran coach, Fred Osam-Duodu, will be the man to lead the Black Starlets to the Africa U-17 Championship in Togo next March.
The tried and tested coach is only waiting for his appointment letter from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in the next few days to embark on his new assignment.
But as the year comes to a close, it is likely that his appointment will take effect from January 2007.
Coach Osam-Duodu, who was linked to the job alongside two others after Bashir Hayford’s recent eight-match ban by CAF, was finally invited for talks with a four-man FA interview panel headed by President Kwesi Nyantakyi last Wednesday.
The other panel members were the GFA General Secretary, Mr Kofi Nsiah, Mr Awuah Nyamekye and Nana Okoforobuor Kojo Budu II, Chairman and member respectively of the Black Starlets Management Committee.
Graphic investigations reveal that the fruitful deliberations pointed to a firm decision by the FA to appoint Osam-Duodu at this critical period where an experienced coach of his calibre is needed to prepare the team to excel in Togo and pick one of the three World Cup tickets to Korea next year.
When contacted yesterday, the accomplished coach confirmed the meeting with the FA and pledged his readiness to serve the country as he had exhibited in the past in both administrative and technical capacities.
Though coaches Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie and Herbert Addo were also in the reckoning, observers believe Osam-Duodu might have got the nod in view of his exploits with The Gambia U-17 national team in both the African Championship and the World Cup in Peru.
For the first time in the history of The Gambia football, Osam-Duodu who was then on a FIFA/IOC contract, steered the Young Scorpions to lift the African trophy at the expense of the Starlets after a 1-0 win in the final.
The one-time GFA General Secretary and Technical Director is on record to have excelled with the various national male teams, with the Black Stars’ 1980 African Nations Cup triumph being the most outstanding.
Meanwhile, the following players have been invited to report for camping at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, Prampram, today to begin preparation for the African Championship.
Goalkeepers: Abraham Hoenyedzi (Ken Harrison Babies), David Dadzie (Nungua United), Philip Adu (Maxbees), Charles Enterm (Nungua United) and Ali Ibrahim (Ali Jaraa Academy).
Defenders: Stephen Owusu-Ansah (Ashantigold), Paul Addo (Fairpoint), Daniel Opare (Ashantigold), Philip Boampong (Maxbees), Samuel Ayisi (Seven United), Eric Opoku (Corners Babies), Pero Gwalla (Catholic Stars), Moses Otiboe (International Allies) and Aminu Ishmael (Wa All Stars).
Midfielders: Abdul Naza Alhassan (Maxbees), Enoch Ebo Andoh (Corners Babies), Omar Nuhu Bello (Bofoakwa), William Owusu (Nania FC), Alhasan Meisuna (Eleven Wise), Emmanuel Bukason (Kessben), Ben Owusu (Arsenal), Suraju Ibrahim (Wa All Stars), Adu Kofi (Corners Babies) and Sulley Issakah (Chicago Babies).
Attackers: Ransford Osei (Kessben), Saadick Adams (Ashantigold), Nathaniel Asamoah (Subway FC), Abeiku Quansah (Windy Professionals), Imoro Adams (Semereka FC), Eric Mensah (Nikwab Professionals), Kelvin Owusu (Reading FC, UK), David Addotey (Jen FC), Nana Yaw Sarfo (Ashanti Gold Stars), Ishmael Yartey (All Blacks), Abdraman Fuseini (Wa All Stars), Francis Nana Bayin (Todd Babies) and Kwadwo Amofa (Staling Academy).
Story by Samuel Ebo Kwaitoo
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