He will be assisted by George Boateng and Didi Dramani.
Having worked as a technical advisor for the team before Nigeria’s games in the World Cup playoffs and the World Cup in Qatar, Hughton faced the media in Kumasi at the SG Mall after the official opening.
Here are some takeaways from the 64-year-old presser:
Chris Hughton is adamant about building a solid team. Despite failing to attract attention at the World Cup in the Gulf countries, Ghana fielded one of the youngest teams.
The playing body has now been touted as the team that may end the country’s trophyless jinx of more than 40 years.
However, Hughton is determined to build a formidable side in a year and a half.
“We want to see a winning team. There will be many questions. Are you offensive or defensive? The correct preparation of the team,” he said.
“Use the players with the best abilities. We start at the same level. Gather a group of players to play as a team and win matches,” he added.
Cups are not guaranteed
Despite aiming to build a formidable team, Hughton managed the Ghanaians’ expectations and firmly stated that they cannot guarantee trophies.
Ghana have failed to win the continent’s most prestigious trophy with the last trophy coming in 1982. The team came close in 1992, 2010 and 2015.
After failing to win a single game in the last AFCON in Cameroon, football fans will be hoping Hughton and his technical team will guide the team to qualify and add to the trophy in Ivory Coast.
Interestingly, the former Brighton boss who spoke to the press insisted that no coach can guarantee trophies.
“Coaches cannot guarantee trophies. None of them are because of us [coaches] can’t guarantee anything,” Hughton said.
“What we can guarantee is that we will work hard to put the team together; to create the right tactics, the right mentality, the right personnel to put ourselves in the best position to do it. And the first is qualification, so we will work hard.
Stay in Ghana and spend time watching the Ghana Premier League
Expatriate coaches have over the years failed to live up to their promises after taking over the national team duties.
A classic example is former Chelsea manager Avram Grant. The Israeli manager has been described as a stubborn gaffer as he has no interest in staying in the country.
Amazingly, Avram led the team to the 2015 AFCON finals in Equatorial Guinea.
Chris Hughton has been criticized after no local players have a place in his 25-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] against Angola on Saturday.
The decision by the former Ireland international has been defended by the head of the country’s football governing body.
Players who play in the Ghana Premier League have failed to make an impact at various clubs.
Black Galaxies, their homegrown players are unable to feature in the 2022 African Nations Championship [CHAN] in Algeria. The Annor Walker-led team suffered elimination in the quarter-finals, losing to Niger.
However, Hughton has pledged to spend more time in Ghana and also watch the top flight with a view to building a formidable side.
“I will spend more time in Ghana. I will watch more games. I constantly know good players.”
“I will pay more attention [GPL] game because it is important that we have a strong national league.”
Noise problem
The current GFA hierarchy led by Kurt Okraku has been criticized for its alleged player influence.
It has been reported that the FA has placed players in various national team coaches. However, CK Akonnor, the former coach of the Black Stars in an interview with Joy Prime surprisingly confirmed that the issue of player influence in the national team is a piece of common knowledge.
Ahead of the 2022 Mundial in Qatar, the decision to leave Joseph Paintsil, who is one of the best Ghanaian players in Europe, dominated the local and international media for the wrong reasons.
The decision was due to player influence from the FA leadership.
But Hughton told the press that he does not want to talk about what happened in the past because he is the manager.
According to him, player influence will be a thing of the past.
“I can’t talk about past events.”
“I’m the head coach now and I know distractions will be a thing of the past.”
Selection metrics will not be static & balance between young and old players
With today’s young players, Chris Hughton has ensured that the selection metrics will not be static.
He also assured that there will be a mix of young and old players.
To have a strong team as promised by the new coach, not having a template squad to call upon will force other players to aim for their place in the team.
It is important to maintain a winning squad but to build a good team, it is necessary to create competition that will make the team more competitive and stronger.
The combination of young and experienced players is always the medium for a successful team.
The Black Stars played in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa for the first time in the history of the country thanks to the experience and fresh blood of the team in Milovan Rajevac, having played in the round of 16 in Germany in the debut appearance of Ratomir Dujkovic.
Daniel Agyei, Andre Ayew, Jonathan Mensah, Samuel Inkoom, and Dominic Adiyah who won the U-20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009 make the team a strong team.
The same crop of players, unfortunately, lost out when they won the 2010 AFCON in Angola.
“There’s a thought process that goes into every squad. And sometimes that thought process goes out the window when you’ve got a player injured,” Hughton said in a presser about selection metrics.
“International football is always about compromise, and always about adjusting.”
Chris Hughton will take charge of the first training session with the players who have flown into the country at the Accra Sports Stadium later on Monday.
Ghana will face Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with the first leg scheduled to be played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday, while the second leg will take place in Luanda four days later.
Since the appointment of Avram Grant who has coached in the Premier League, Chris Hughton may remain the next high profile manager appointed by the GFA. After speaking fluently at the opening, the former Norwich boss calmly, the Ghanaian can be sure that a manager with pedigree and rich experience will now manage a team that has failed to appear in the last two international tournaments in two different tournaments. trainer.
After being a part of the team for almost a year, I am sure Chris Hughton will find a gap in the team and want to improve on the shortcomings.
With the contract subject to a performance review, Hughton will hope to start on a bright spot and subsequently chalk up success with the Black Stars.
Good luck and welcome, Chris!