Claude Le Roy has thrown his heart into Ghana's 'Agenda 2010' as he seeks to lead the Black Stars in search of places at the next World Cup and African Nations Cup tournaments.
The prospects of remaining Ghana coach beyond the expiration of his current contract in June have been further boosted by the Ghana Football Association's massive endorsement of his work, despite having to settle for a third-place finish at the Nations Cup after missing out on gold."Ghana stands a good chance of winning the Nations Cup and doing well at the World Cup. We would keep the team together and the core of the team should be retained.
"The competence of Le Roy is unquestionable.
We did not win but the blame is not entirely that of the coach.
"The Executive Committee has taken that decision (to retain Le Roy).
We cannot take one match to make that choice. If we sack Le Roy, it would not serve any useful purpose," said FA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi at a press briefing on Tuesday.
The unanimous voting decision by the Executive Committee to have him continue his job as Ghana coach has moved the French coach, who says he is filled with "pride and honour" and is ready to commit himself to the Black Stars job.
"It fills me with pride and honour that the GFA and the Executive Committee have such confidence in me. I am very happy about that and now I can say I am ready to sign," Le Roy, who is on a vacation told www.ghanafa.org from his base in France.
Though receiving some offers in the course of the tournament, Le Roy says his future with Ghana was never in doubt and explained that his decision to remain quiet was allow the FA do its job.
"I have had a wonderful relationship with the GFA and the players and from this Ghana was always my priority even though I have had many offers."
Plays down talk about money
Talk about the money involved in the new deal according to the coach has never been an issue in agreeing to an extension with Ghana as he prepares to firm up a deal when he returns to the country.
"It's not all about money because for me, football is more important than money. If money was the main issue for me, I would have opted for other countries."
"We have to improve on a lot of things and those things are more important than money," Le Roy said.
Concern has been expressed by a smaller section of the Ghanaian public and a few past members of the national team, at the Frenchman's apparent inability to win the Nations Cup title as the call for a change.The coach however retains the backing of the governing body of the Ghana Football Association and there is also the will to ensure that he gleans success at the 2010 tournament beginning with the qualifiers later in June.
And FA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi says: "Let's give him the chance in 2010," as the Ghana Football Association sticks to the Frenchman.The FA has been patient in the past, most notably in allowing his predecessor, Ratomir Dujkovic to stay on and prove his credentials at the 2006 World Cup after a rather poor showing at the Nations Cup, some five months before.
As it is, the 60 year-old Le Roy retains realistic hopes of achieving success in qualifying Ghana for both the Nations Cup to be hosted by Angola in January and June's World Cup in South Africa, both in 2010 and even going beyond the third-place finish he guided Ghana to and bettering the Black Stars' round-of-16 place at the last World Cup.
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