Coach Milo Quits

Just a few days after denying media reports that he was on his way out of the camp of the Black Stars, Milovan Rajevac, the Serbian coach of the senior national team, has confirmed earlier speculations and dealt a bitter blow to the nation.

Milo denied the reports moments after he led the Black Stars to tame Swaziland 3-0 in a 2012 Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifier.

But reports emanating from the international arena suggest that the Serbian, whose rating soared after taking the Black Stars to the quarter-finals stage at the just-ended World Cup in South Africa, had signed a multimillion dollar contract with an oil-rich Saudi club.

Though details of the deal are not yet known, DAILY GUIDE SPORTS checks indicate the 56-year-old Serbian has signed a three-year contract with Saudi Arabian club side Al Ahly Jeddah, running into some millions of dollars.

Earlier reports had suggested that Milo, who is regarded as one of the best tacticians in the world, had been offered $60,000 by the Ghana Football Association in order to steer the campaign of the Black Stars until the 2014 World Cup, to be hosted by Brazil, was over.

But in a twinkle of an eye, the Serbian appeared to have followed in the footsteps of ex Black Stars’ coaches, his compatriot Ratomir Djukovic who left for China after taking Ghana to its first ever World Cup in Germany in 2006, and Frenchman Claude Leroy, who abandoned the Black Stars at the beginning of the 2010 World Cup/CAN qualifiers.

Goran Milovanovic, the agent of Milo who the Black Stars’ coach claimed he had a misunderstanding with, expressed ‘shock’ and ‘disgust’ over the coach’s sudden change of mind over a new contract with the Black Stars yesterday.

According to the agent, who negotiated a new four-year contract with the GFA for the Serbian, he convinced Milo not to take other offers.

“I want to make it clear that I have no hand in any Saudi deal and I have a problem with the apparent breach of trust. I am disgusted.

“I am seriously unhappy with the way he has suddenly turned his back on the people and government of Ghana, the players of Ghana, the members of the Ghana FA”, he told ghanasoccernet.com.

“We sat down with the Ghana FA last month and we negotiated a very good deal. Even though there were other better offers, we agreed that we must respect what the people of Ghana have done for him.He publicly gave his word to the people of Ghana, to the Ghana government and the Ghana FA after decent negotiations that he would stay and we negotiated on that basis.”

The FA on Tuesday gave Milo a seven-day ultimatum to sign a new contract with the Black Stars or face the exit.

But the latest twist to events means the FA would have to quickly search for a new coach since the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifiers have begun.

For the first time in the history of modern football, most Ghanaians had wanted Milo to stay because of the transformation and tenacity he brought to the team, but they would have to contend with the Serbian’s decision.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah
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