Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President Fred Pappoe has cautioned the association to be prudent in their search for a new coach for the Black Stars, emphasizing the potential financial strain that comes with hiring high-profile coaches.
Pappoe’s remarks follow the GFA’s establishment of a five-member committee with the task of identifying a suitable replacement for coach Chris Hughton, who was recently let go due to the team’s underwhelming performance. While Pappoe supports parting ways with Hughton, he stresses the importance of being fiscally responsible when seeking his successor.
“If Ghana aims to engage high-profile coaches of the caliber of Herve Renard, a two-time AFCON winner, or others known for their successful track record, then as a country, we must be willing to make a significant financial commitment,” Pappoe cautioned.
He questioned whether the government is prepared to shoulder the substantial fees demanded by elite coaches, highlighting that the cost of hiring such coaches could be excessively high for Ghana. Pappoe recommended that the GFA should set a clear budget for the coaching position and consider coaches who resonate with Ghana’s football culture and are willing to operate within the country’s financial constraints.
“In the end, we need to define our budget for that position. Are we willing to pay €35,000 or €40,000 a month for a coach?” Pappoe asked rhetorically. “If we think that is what we can comfortably afford, or we want to pursue the top coaches like Herve Renard and others, who would demand large sums of money, that may not sit well with Ghanaians,” he advised.
Numerous coaches, including former Bayern Munich coach Felix Magath, and German tactician Jürgen Kohler, have expressed interest in the top job.
