In the buildup to the World Cup, Black Stars assistant coach Roger De Sa has made his assessment of Ghana football, its untapped potential, and the simple but essential task facing the technical team.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, De Sa made it clear that accepting the invitation to assist the Black Stars was instinctive. “Being called upon to assist Carlos was not a difficult decision because this is Ghana and it’s the World Cup we are talking about,” he said.
For De Sa, the mission is both straightforward and profoundly meaningful: “We are here to do our best and make Ghanaians happy. If Carlos does his job, there is none better than him.”
The South African-born coach did not hold back in his admiration for the raw footballing ability he has witnessed since arriving in Ghana. In remarks that extended beyond the usual pre-tournament talking points, De Sa offered a striking comparison between infrastructure and skill.
There is so much natural talent in Ghana despite limited resources,” De Sa observed. “As an African football lover, the talent here is unbelievable. You guys don’t know what you have with limited facilities and infrastructure. We in South Africa have talent too, but a different kind with all the facilities. Yet we don’t go forward with our talent.”
The contrast, in his view, abundant facilities do not automatically yield progress, while limited resources in Ghana have produced an extraordinary wellspring of ability.
When asked about the team’s tactical preparation, De Sa emphasized that the core work is not about reinvention but about arrangement and mindset.
We have the players and we only have to put them in the right position and with the right frame of mind,” he explained. “And they put on the jersey, they should be able to perform.”
That confidence stems from a belief that the squad’s technical education is already complete at this level. I think we only need cohesion in the team,” De Sa said. “We are not going to teach them how to play since we are all working towards a common goal.”