Former Ghana international Augustine Ahinful has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to put an end to the growing trend of appointing coaches who are simultaneously managing club sides and national teams.
In recent years, several coaches in charge of Ghana’s national teams have also held roles with clubs in the Ghana Premier League and Division One League—a situation Ahinful believes is detrimental to the progress of the national teams.
Speaking in an interview with Asempa FM, the former Black Stars striker stressed the importance of having dedicated national team coaches who can fully focus on their responsibilities.
“National team coaches must not be allowed to coach club sides. If we allow that, I’m sorry to say that corruption will rise in our game,” Ahinful warned.
He argued that coaches with dual roles are often unable to thoroughly scout and select the best players from across the country. “If a coach is handling a club side and he is tasked with announcing a national team squad, how will he be able to go around and scout for the right players?” he questioned.
Ahinful urged the GFA, in collaboration with the government, to establish a system that employs national team coaches on a full-time basis with regular monthly salaries. He believes this would enable coaches to dedicate their time and energy to building competitive national teams.
“This system will not work unless it is changed. The government and the GFA must work together to resolve this issue. Coaches should be employed and paid monthly to focus solely on national team duties. The current arrangement, where a coach leaves his club to attend a national team camp, is simply not the best,” he concluded.
Ahinful’s remarks echo growing concerns about the structure and integrity of coaching appointments within Ghanaian football, and highlight the need for reforms to enhance national team performance.
