Visible Changes In Ghana Camp As Black Stars Seek To Recover From World Cup Shambles

Ghana�s national team is witnessing visible positive changes as the management of the Black Stars is seeking to improve on the things that wrecked the Black Stars World Cup campaign in Brazil in June. Reforms in the way the team is being managed has been carried with contracts, while a new mode of payment for the team has been agreed with the players. The large number of officials following the team during Black Stars training sessions have decreased drastically while the large number of supporters trooping to the team�s hotel has significantly reduced. The pitch which is also invaded by all sort of people during the team�s training sessions in Ghana has also been cut with only the technical team allowed onto the pitch. GHANAsoccernet.com visit to Kumasi to observe the team�s training sessions has noted these several changes that would inure to the benefit of the squad who complained about some of these things. In the wake of Ghana�s exit from the World Cup in Brazil, lots of focus have been fixed on team discipline and the mode of remuneration for players. Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi says their stated mission of introducing reforms in the management of national teams will improve performances and build strong brands. With some railing against some of the previous practices, the GFA has made the most impact in its bid to bring about improvements by introducing cashless payments ahead of a new campaign in the qualifying for the 2015 Africa Nations Cup this weekend as the Black Stars start off with a home opener against Uganda. �There were a number issues that we discussed with the players. One is about the code of conduct and contract with players, mode of payment of monies, we are moving from the payment of cash,� Kwesi Nyantakyi said after their meeting with players of the Black Stars on Tuesday. �We settled on the payment through the cheque system. We looked at other issues arising from the World Cup and the need to rededicate and recommit ourselves to the cause of the country �I believe the meeting was a very good meeting and we engaged players and also got them to commit themselves to doing very well for the country.� Nyantakyi says the measures already under way, would ultimately lead to helping the team to improve their performance. �We are going to continue the good management practices that we have shown towards the players. �As human beings, there may have been one or two shortcomings. Some of the recommendations we have come up with to make the Association and the team a better one is the introduction of contracts with players,� he said. �The mode of payment is changing and everyone has agreed to that. We are also improving or enhancing the code of conduct. We have put new arrangements in place in terms of the size of hotel we are staying in, in terms of the number of the members of the delegation, in terms of attitude and people coming around to visit the players. �All these things have been reviewed and revised with the view that things will be better for the players to perform above optimum. We hope that all of us, including players have learnt useful lessons from the episode in Brazil so we build a stronger brand for the Black Stars.� Encouraging transparency, according to the GFA President blanked any possible trait of mistrust between players and management as meeting was done in such an environment. �It [meeting] was [successful]. They [players] really expressed themselves. They told us their views and opinions on some of the issues and they welcomed the suggestions we put across which in their opinion will make them better or stronger persons. �They also made contributions and said that they will look at the contract that we will give to them and if they have any comments or suggestions, they will put them across before each of them signs or puts his signature to it. �We will usually want to carry players along with each good step we want to take. We don�t impose our views on them. We try to explain and convince them to move along with us because decisions taken for them are usually done in their best personal interest. We do our best to explain,� said Nyantakyi.