Black Stars: Building in the sinking sands

The task of selecting Ghana's next Black Stars coach has been assigned to a committee of five individuals, a committee that has been tasked with the immense responsibility of choosing a leader for the country's national football team. This is not a light responsibility, as the individuals involved have a wealth of experience, institution knowledge, and a deep understanding of the team culture.

The committee includes Stephen Appiah, a legend in Ghanaian football, who was the captain of Ghana's golden generation and delivered the team's first World Cup qualification. Appiah, known as "Mr. Do no wrong," has been a part of the team in various capacities, from captain to Team Manager and vice chair of the Black Stars Management Committee.

Tony Baffoe, a former Deputy General Secretary at CAF, is also part of the committee. He served in this role from November 2017 to June 2021 and now runs the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana. Fred Pappoe, with a decade-long administrative career, has held various roles at the GFA, including Vice President.

Faisal Chibsah, the youngest and most exciting name on the committee, is a High Performance Specialist. He gained national attention when he was disqualified from the contest for the Technical Director role due to being "too young." Since then, Chibsah has worked at FIFA, where he was given the role of High Performance Expert. Agbesi Dzakpasu, another member, has served as the GFA's prosecutor and a member of the Legal and Appeals Committees.

The committee's mix of experienced administrators, institutional knowledge, and understanding of the Black Stars culture gives them a strong foundation to make a decision. However, the real challenge lies in the environment in which they will make their decision. The current state of Ghana's national teams, including the Black Starlets (U-17), Black Satellites (U-20), and the Black Stars, reflects the overall malaise in the country's football scene.

The success of the Black Stars is intrinsically linked to the success of their youth teams. The team's golden era from 2005 to 2017, marked by strong youth teams, has been a driving force behind their achievements. This success is not a coincidence but rather the result of a well-functioning youth system. Therefore, the committee's decision will not only reflect their competence but also their ability to operate in this challenging environment and build on the conveyor belt that feeds the Black Stars.