So after 28 years in the dark culminating in the hiring and firing of both local and foreign coaches, is the former British colony then known as Gold Coast in a position now to regain their past glory?

Newly appointed Serbian coach Goran Stevanovic, 44, feels he has the key to unlock the country’s success.

“I am here to be a champion. I am certain that all of us want to be champions. We all want Ghana football to improve. I can assure you that I am motivated for the challenge,” the former Partizan tactician sets the tone at his maiden press briefing.

“It’s been many years since Ghana won the African Cup. But I believe it’s now time for trophies. It’s time to be first again, it’s been a while.”

Big shoes

Having excelled at the last Nations Cup in Angola [silver] and recorded an historic quarter-final berth at the 2010 World Cup, it is obvious that the shoes left behind by former coach Milovan Rajevac are big enough for a courageous person to succeed him. Rajevac is undoubtedly the most successful foreign coach Gold Coast [former name of Ghana] has ever had.

He took the west African country to the maiden Championship of African Nations in Ivory Coast and came second. He stood out at the Nations Cup and World Cup in 2010 with a rather young team. He would forever be missed by Ghanaian fans but having left behind a disciplined, formidable and result oriented squad it should not be that difficult for his country man to bear the touch.

No doubt Stevanovic himself has acknowledged that fact.

“I want to take this exciting team further. I’m aware is not going to be easy. Now my biggest challenge in this job is to motivate the players to believe that they can do better – and this is very challenging because they have achieved so much.

“The Black Stars of Ghana mirrors the country’s image and we cannot play with it because it is such a very powerful tool.


A Black Stars fan at the 2010 World Cup

Time for trophies

“I appreciate and congratulate my immediate predecessor with what he has done for Ghana, but I say it is now time for trophies. I am here to make the Black Stars shine.”

Stevanovic called for the full support of the government, the FA and the media in order to execute his work appreciably. Already, the media had forewarned him that they are not going to be soft on him if he fails to deliver. It is hugely reported that he resigned from his former position as a result of pressure. If that is actually the case then he has headed into a volatile zone where Africans are generally known to “eat, drink and sleep” football to the extent of worshiping it.

“Pressure is the same everywhere and I don’t expect something different here. I’m not here to better my CV,” he made that clear to his probably foes to be in the media.

The 44-year-old assumes work from 1 February for the next two years with an option to renew his contract for another two years based on his performance. He is earning 30, 000 euros same as his predecessor Milovan Rajevac.

Stevanovic guided Partizan to the Serbian league title last season before resigning in April and had previously worked as an assistant coach for his country at the World Cup in 2006.
He is Ghana’s third Serbian coach since 2004 following the reigns of 56-year-old Rajevac and Ratomir Dujkovic, which were separated by a stint with Frenchman Claude Le Roy in charge.

Profile

The retired midfielder began his football career with Partizan Belgrade in 1983 and retired in 1999 with Panelefsiniakos. Presently, he holds a UEFA Pro Licence and commenced coaching in 2001 with Cukaricki Stamcom in the Serbian elite league. Between 2003 and 2006, the 44-year-old served in an assistant capacity with the Serbian and Montenegro national team that left a mark at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Thereafter, he became the assistant coach for Serbian giants Partizan Belgrade between 2007 and 2009 before being promoted as head coach. He was the assistant coach when Partizan Belgrade won two league titles and two FA Cups between 2007 and 2009. He retired upon pressure from the fans.