CK Akonnor

Black Stars: CK Akonnor named Head Coach of Ghana

Kweku Zurek Sports News Jan - 15 - 2020 , 14:53 3 minutes read

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has appointed Charles Kwabla (CK) Akonnor as Head Coach of Ghana's senior national team, the Black Stars.

The former Black Stars and Wolfsburg captain will be assisted by former national U-17 coach David Duncan as Assistant Coach.

The GFA in a statement on its website announcing the appointment did not give any details of Akonnor's contract.

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Appointment

The job is the biggest of Akonnor's coaching career thus far despite having managed three of Ghana's major clubs sides in the past.

After calling time on a stellar playing career because of a niggling knee injury, Akonnor who made 41 appearances and scored 12 goals for Ghana cut his teeth as a coach at Sekondi Eleven Wise in 2009.

He has also hand stints with Ghana's biggest clubs Accra Hearts of Oak (2012) and Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

Akonnor led the latter to the Money Zone of the CAF Confederation Cup before he left the club in July 2019.

The last coaching job he held prior to his latest appointment was Assistant Coach of the Black Stars. That appointment was shortlived because the GFA dissolved the technical teams of all the national teams.

He replaces Kwesi Appiah whose contract was not renewed after a two-and-a-half-year stint as Black Stars Head Coach.

Club career

The Bundesliga legend started his youth career with Young Hearts Tema before going-on to make his name with Okwawu United and Obuasi Goldfields in Ghana.

After a stellar six-year stint with Fortuna Köln in the German second-tier, he landed a massive transfer with Bundesliga giants Vfl Wolfsburg in 1998, where he went on to notch 121 appearances and was eventually named skipper of the side in the 2001–02 season.

However, at the start of the following season, he sustained a knee injury which required an operation in 2003, prompting a January 2004 move to SpVgg Unterhaching, in a second-level return.

Akunnor said he stopped playing at a very young age because his body could not cope with persistent injuries.

"Most at times, it comes with the work and also injury, when you are most of the time injured, you get tired of the game. Nowadays, the game is demanding... So, you look at it mostly after thirty, if you are fit without any injury you are looking to end your career but with an injury, you will easily quit. In my case, I stopped at a very young age because of injury," he said.

After leaving Unterhaching in 2005, Akunnor wen on to play for AC Horsens, Alki Larnaca FC and SC Langenhagen.

Other appointments

The GFA also named Najawu Issah and Dr Christ Adomoako as Goalkeepers Coach and Team Doctor respectively.

Below is the entire technical team of the Black Stars;

Head Coach - CK Akonnor
Assistant - David Duncan
Najawu Issah - Goalkeepers Coach
Dr Christ Adomoako - Team Doctor
Henry Martey - Welfare Officer
S. K. Ankomah - Masseur
George Nii Anum Amasa - Masseur
Daniel Yankey - Equipment Officer
Suleman Zampa - Equipment Officer

The GFA has also constituted the Management Committee of the Black Stars which is chaired by George Amoako.

Other members of the Committee are Akwasi Agyeman (Vice-Chairman), Jones Abu Alhassan, Sammy Kuffuor and former GFA Presidential aspirant Fred Pappoe.