Posted On Thursday, 25th April 2013
Isaac Opeele Boateng is furious with his critics who have questioned his intelligence.
Under-fire Ghana U17 assistant coach Isaac Opeele Boateng has fired back at his critics who have questioned his know-how after the team’s early exit from the African Junior Championship.
Opeele, dubbed as Ghana’s version of Jose Mourinho, is loathed by some football aficionados for his acid-tongue.
His part-tme job in the media-where he reviews the work of other coaches-has also not helped his reputation.
Before his national team appointment, the young trainer was a pundit for local sports radio station Asempa FM as well as a columnist for the state-owned Graphic Sports newspaper.
Opeele was on the Black Starlets bench as they suffered a 6-1 humiliation at the hands of rivals Nigeria in their opening Group B match.
The team also drew 1-1 with Congo and 0-0 with Ivory Coast to finish third and exit the tournament.
Many have wondered why he was unable to rescue the team with his technical ingenuity.
But Opeele remains unperturbed and has described his doubters as jealous and says he remains the ‘Special One’ in Ghana football.
“It’s just jealousy. I am still the special one of Ghana football,” Opeele told Accra-based Asempa FM in an interview.
“I’ve heard people say I am a talkative but I will still talk because that gives me money, it helps me to feed my family.
“I can never be intimidated; I will be who I am because that’s how God created me. I will never change.
“I’ve changed so many things in coaching in the country; I’ve forced coaches to talk about system and tactics after games rather than thanking God, and am proud of that.”
Boateng is one of Ghana’s highly rated coaches having coached Tudu Mighty Jets, Kessben FC (defunct), Sekonid Hasaacas, Tema Youth and Asante Kotoko.
He also handled Tete Atenpong in the Ghana second-tier league.