Soccer News of Wednesday, 4 March 2015
Source: GHANAsoccernet.com
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) will not allow coach Avram Grant to move to South Africa as the technical director of Bafana Bafana, insisting that the Israeli tactician will not abrogate his contract.
This comes after reports in South Africa that the highly-respected Israeli coach could soon be leaving the Black Stars as South Africa are keen on signing him as the technical director of their national team, Bafana Bafana.
Grant is among five high profile coaches rumoured to be on the target list of the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) to assist coach Shakes Mashaba in their bid to boost the side following their recent unimpressive showing at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Even though SAFA’s quest for Avram Grant is not official, Ghana FA spokesman Ibrahim Sannie Daara says they will resist any attempt to lure the Israeli manager who has been overly impressive in his short stint with the Black Stars.
“He has a contract binding him to Ghana for the next two years. We have the advantage and if anything like that should happen, we will fight. But, we don’t expect him to leave because Grant has given us his word,” Sannie Darra told Peace FM.
It is not clear if the Ghana coach has been approached, but his exit will be a massive blow to the Black Stars who have raised their game since the former Chelsea manager joined the team in December.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has committed to appointing a technical director by July 1 with Ghana coach Grant very much among the targeted candidates.
SAFA’s technical committee, led by Natasha Tsichlas, met on Saturday in the hope of identifying and perhaps even short listing potential candidates for the vacant position.
SAFA chief executive Dennis Mumble has confirmed that they are seeking a technical director with his only concern being the affordability of paying for such high-profile technical director.
This is the latest coaching job Avram Grant has been linked with following his impressive showing with the Black Stars at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He was linked with a move to West Ham United, but the Israeli played it down saying he wants to see out his contract with Ghana which is just three months old.