Ex Ghana international Laryea Kingston has heaped praises on Black Stars coach CK Akonnor, saying he has what it takes to take the team higher, and has called on the FA to give him a long term deal to allow him build a winsome side for the nation.
Laryea Kingston believes that the former Ghana skipper needs patience from Ghanaians as he puts the pieces together to build a strong team capable of winning the lures Ghana has been yearning for. CK Akonnor has coach the two biggest clubs in Ghana football; Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko and proved his capabilities when he guided the Porcupine Warriors to win the NC Special Competition, and led the team to play in the CAF Champions League.
According to the former Hearts of Oak midfielder, CK Akonnor is the right choice for the Black Stars coaching job having played and captained the team in his playing days, and when given more years, he can take Ghana to the promised land.
“For me I think he have (SIC) what it takes to….and you can see, at Hearts of Oak it was very short (term) but you can see when he went to Kotoko he was doing very well with Kotoko before he had his problems with them”, Kingston outlined in an interview with Joy FM.
In his view, Laryea Kingston mentioned that CK, having played football to the level of rising become captain of the Black Stars, he will understand the players very well as a former player.
“For me I think it’s a very good choice, he’s played as a player before, he’s played in the national team as well. He’s captained the national team so he will understand the players very well, in his position now he is the coach he will understand the players very well because he’s been in their shoes before so he know (SIC) at a certain he will know how the players are feeling and he will know the right things that the players will need and the country need (SIC)”, he praised.
CK Akonnor has a two-year contract with the GFA as head coach of the Black Stars, subject to renewal, but Kingston says the coach would need much longer time than his contract permits him currently, if he is to build a strong team capable of winning trophies.
According to Kingston, to fairly assess the ability of a national team coach, the coach needs at least three years, and he would have preferred that the Football Association gave Akonnor three years deal instead.
“With me I would be very happy to see Ghana giving him a longer term, he have a two years contract with the national team. At least he is building a team we should have patient (SIC) with our coaches, give them time. For me to see what a coach can really do, it’s three years for me, the first year will be how the players will understand him, how Ghanaians will even understand him, he is developing players”, Kingston hoped.
Akonnor signed a two-year deal as head coach of the Black Stars which was announced by the FA early this month (May 2020) and hopes football will soon return from the coronavirus suspension so he can fully begin his national team managerial career.
