Former Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi reveals why Milovan Rajevac was appointed in 2008 as Black Stars coach

Former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, has shed light on his decision to appoint Milovan Rajevac as head coach of the Black Stars.

In 2008, Nyantakyi’s administration signed the Serbian coach to a two-year contract, and under his leadership, the national team secured a place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Ghana’s journey ended in a heart-wrenching quarter-final match against Uruguay, which concluded in a penalty shootout, denying them a semi-final spot.

Speaking to Lawson FM, Nyantakyi highlighted the challenges faced by the Black Stars and the recurring issue of coaching changes without substantial improvement.

“Our Black Stars haven’t been good. We’ve appointed five coaches in five years, but we haven’t seen any real progress. From an outsider’s perspective, things haven’t been great,” he stated.

Nyantakyi shared the key qualities he sought in a coach: ambition and resilience.

“Milovan Rajevac showed me that he could withstand the challenges of coaching in Africa. He shared an experience of travelling 1,000 kilometres on a bus with his former club, Vojvodina, alongside the players. That really convinced me to give him the role, and he lived up to our expectations,” Nyantakyi explained.

He added that Rajevac’s understanding of African football and the cultural parallels between Serbia and Africa played a significant role in his selection.

“When Milo came in, he didn’t disappoint us,” Nyantakyi said.

However, after the 2010 World Cup, Rajevac left Ghana on September 8, 2010, to take up a new position with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli just a day after his departure from the national team.

In a related development, the future of Otto Addo as head coach of the Black Stars remains uncertain. The Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council is yet to reach a decision following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite an extensive meeting on the matter.