Former junior national team coach, Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie is looking forward to beginning work with players who qualify for the Under-17 age category.
Afranie would return to the coaching ranks of the Under-17 team, the Black Starlets following his confirmation as coach by the Ghana Football Association. He has been appointed to manage the Under-17 team as they bid to qualify for next year’s Africa U-17 Championship.
The former junior team coach has had two previous stints with the Black Starlets in 1991 and 1997.
The celebrated coach who now has the opportunity to work again with the Black Starlets, over a decade since he last managed the team says he is happy to work with the kids and hopes to instill the necessary technical knowledge into their play.
“It’s always great to work with the kids. And as a father you try to instill that fatherly care into them. You always enjoy every moment of working with them as you get to experience different characters and also notice the various qualities they posses.
“However, with my experience in the area of youth team coaching and what I have gained over the years from the senior level, I hope we can impart some knowledge into them,” the new Under-17 team coach told www.ghanafa.org.
The former national Under-17, Under-20 and senior team coach would be assisted by Frimpong Manso, a former Ghana international.
Frimpong Manso, who is credited for qualifying Kessben FC to the premiership and Emmanuel Afranie have come a long way.
The former defender played under Emmanuel Afranie during his club career days with Asante Kotoko and the veteran coach says he expects the former international to make such a good partner.
“I have always known Frimpong Manso for his good leadership qualities. He was such a quality player, disciplined and has grown to become a good coach.
“I expect nothing short than cooperation and mutual respect from him (Frimpong Manso). I know we would walk in the same direction. I also expect success from and he knows what we all want. We want to achieve results and attain success. But the most important thing is that, we work as a team,” Afranie said.
Ghana would play Libya in the first round qualifying stage of the 8th Africa U-17 Championship.
The Black Starlets and their first round opponents both drew a bye from the preliminary round matches as they prepare for the August 31 first leg match to be hosted by Ghana.
The 8th Africa U-17 Championship would be hosted by Algeria in 2009 and it starts from the 19th of March till the 3rd of April 2009.