Ghana coach adamant on
players release date
…Says billions of dollars can’t change
his mind
By MERCY OKORO
Monday, December 31, 2007
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•Essien
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Ghana’s Black Stars coach, Claude Le Roy has re-affirmed
intention to have his players on time in camp towards the
MTN/CAF African Cup of Nations competition preparations.
The French coach said in order for his team to perform well
in the competition, all the players must be in camp at the
stipulated date for camping.
"I want all of my squad with me in the first days of
January, and with all of our fans behind us we can do well.
"I'm especially keen to get my players from the Premier
League in England."
Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth), Michael Essien (Chelsea), John
Pantsil (West Ham) and Richard Kingson (Birmingham City) are
due to join the Ghana squad soon, despite many of their managers
hoping to delay their exit from club duties.
LeRoy says their hopes are in vain: "The coaches (in
England) are always complaining about losing their players
to the Nations Cup but they have to be with me on January
5.
"There will be no discussion or negotiations over this
date - that is the regulation, so even if the clubs offered
me billions of dollars, this will not change.
"I have to have all my players in the training camp so
I can discuss with them our plan for the event," LeRoy
added.
LeRoy, however, called on Black Stars' fans to help his team
win the African Cup of Nations, despite the loss of injured
captain Stephen Appiah.
"Without our captain, we need the support of our fans
more than ever," the Frenchman told BBC Sport.
"We still want to produce good quality football and all
my players will know what is expected of them.
"We meet soon for our training camp and if we are to
win the tournament we must prepare perfectly," LeRoy
added.
Talismanic captain Stephen Appiah has been ruled out for at
least two months with a knee injury and will therefore miss
January's tournament.
However, though the Black Stars will lament the loss of Appiah,
LeRoy still has an array of talent to choose from in his bid
to win the Nations Cup on home soil.
Michael Essien is expected to join the Ghana squad on January
5.
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