Former Arsenal player slams Ghana FA on Hughton
Against the wish of the current Ghana FA hierarchy, Hughton will be named substantive national team coach next week.
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong believes the aberrations of the Ghana Football Association forced the Government to impose Chris Hughton as the next Black Stars coach.
The Kurt Okraku administration has scored low marks after their two previous appointments backfire.
CK Akonnor was the first to be appointed in January 2020 but the ex-Ghana captain got fired 21 months later following a 1-0 defeat to South Africa in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
His successor was Milovan Rajevac, returning for a second spell, who led Ghana's calamitous 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Rajevac failed to weave his magic as the Black Stars got evicted at the group stage without a win in three matches.
Some government grandees are reported to have led negotiations with the former English Premier League manager to replace the Serbian.
Against the wish of the current Ghana FA hierarchy, the former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton manager will be named substantive national team coach next week.
Hughton will be assisted by Otto Addo and Ibrahim Tanko.
He expected to led the team in March's two-legged final World Cup qualifier against West African rivals Nigeria.
Many have described this move by the government as interference but Frimpong says the Okraku-led administration have themselves to blame.
''The Ghana Football Association got themselves into this mess. They are the reason why the Government is deciding as to who to become the Black Stars coach,'' Frimpong said on GTV Sports Plus.
''They were given the chance and on two occasions they failed the nation.''
Meanwhile, Gbese Mantse Nii Ayi Bonte II has offered support to incoming Black Stars coach Chris Hughton, when the former Brighton manager paid him a visit.
“It’s a pleasure for me to meet you and I’ve heard so much about you and I know how much you enjoy football.” Hughton said.
“Predominantly, the reason I’m here is to see family, my father is from Jamestown and this will be a very proud moment for him.
“I very much appreciate and welcome your words of wisdom and this is something that I’ll take forward with me.
The Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi-Bonte II, who is a one time chairman of Ghana Premier League giants, Accra Hearts of Oak assured Chris Hughton of his maximum support if he becomes the next Black Stars coach.
“I want to assure you that if you are appointed the next Black Stars Head Coach, you have a lot of work to do.”
“You’ll get the support of Ghanaians when you win but not when you lose.”
“We give you our blessings, you will make it”.
