Football in Ghana: Prayers, plenty of sleep and the 'Money Man’
Experience.
Ghana looked to the United Kingdom for experience ahead of this years African Cup of Nations which took place in Equatorial Guinea: The Ghanian Federation called upon Avram Grant (who was just a slip away from winning a Champions League at Chelsea, after taking over from Mourinho) and Spaniard, Gerard Nus, who worked with Rafa Benítez during his time at Liverpool. They made it to the final where the faced an Ivory Coast team with Yaya Touré in the ranks but lost on after a lengthy and dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Customs.
The traditions that surround Ghanian football are some of the most unusual, even for a footballing veteran such as Grant. Religion plays a huge role in day to day Ghanian life and is very present in the country’s football culture too. Players pray together, not just before games but also in the hotel or on trips to the stadium ahead of matches. Christians and Muslims live side by side with no problems
Plenty of sleep.
African players sleep a great deal, more than their European counterparts and this is something a coach needs to get used to. Attending breakfast is optional and the first team meeting of the day takes place at around 1300, one hour before lunch (where Ghanaian rice and plantain (a type of banana) are staple ingredients), the team trains when the sun is setting. This timetable is dictated by the climate, the intense heat means it’s impossible to train during the day unless it’s carried out at seven in the morning with sunrise. Avram felt it was better for the players to have their sleep.
Decisions.
Time marks the main difference in coaching at international level. Therefore, establishing tactics, line-ups, and strategy are even more decisive. There is rarely time for trial runs. This is something that Avram Grant and Nus picked up quickly. They tried to use a system with three center backs for the opening game of the tournament against Senegal. They lost 2-1 and reverted to a 4-4-2 system where the team were more comfortable.
Money Man.
The Federation have a ‘Money Man’, whose role is to pay the players in cash which they are obliged to count to confirm they have been paid the agreed sum. The success of the Ghanian team at the 2015 CAN was acknowledged by President, John Dramani Mahama, who invited the full squad for breakfast at the presidential palace the day after the final.
He gave each player a Jeep and 25.000 dollars. Things happen differently in Ghana and it’s understandable why, on occasion, certain players take a while to adjust to a return to their club sides.
Source: AS.com
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