Grant beefs up technical team; Brings on physical trainer, video analyst

Ahead of the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) on January 17 in Equatorial Guinea, head coach of the Black Stars, Avram Grant, has  strengthened his coaching staff with the additions of ex-Jamaican international, Jamie Lawrence, as a physical instructor, and former Liverpool assistant fitness coach, Gerard Nus, as the video analyst.

The duo were last Friday officially introduced to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga, by Fred Crentsil, the vice president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) at the uniBank head office at the World Trade Centre in Accra.

Avram Grant, unlike other applicants for the vacant Stars job few months ago, did not ask for assistants during his interview.

However,  the GFA accepted to contract Messrs Lawrence and Nus on his behalf for just the 2015 AFCON after which their future with the team would be assessed.

According to Mr Crentsil, the GFA would work to ensure that the Black Stars make an impressive showing in Equatorial Guinea.

 Lawrence, 44, is an English-born former Jamaican international who had a long career, appearing for club sides likes of Sunderland, Leicester, Bradford City and Wigan Athletic. He notched 24 caps for the Reggae Boys, scoring one goal.

Lawrence began his coaching career as a player-manager of Ashford Town between November 2009 and June 2011. He signed a six-week contract with the Ghana national team to be the fitness coach for the 2015 AFCON, having previously worked in a similar role with Sutton United.

Spaniard Nus holds a Sports Science Degree from the Universitat of Lleida, Spain and a Uefa Pro-A License.

He was a member of Rafael Benitez’s coaching staff at Liverpool FC between 2007 and 2009 when he occupied roles such as academy coach, reserves coach and assistant fitness coach of the first team.

Mr Nus has also coached several teams, including South Korean club, Chunnam Dragons, which he led to a seventh-place finish, Brighton and Hove Albion FC, where he was the head of the academy coaches, and his last job was in the Australian League, where he was the first team assistant coach between September 2013 and September 2014.

He is also a representative of Efficiency Match, a multifunctional football app for iPad devices, which is used by clubs such as FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, Totthenham Hotspur FC and AFC Sunderland, among others.