Posted by 1978 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner Mohammed Polo has backed the plans of current Black Stars manager CK Akonnor to adopt and modify the style of the 1978 AFCON winning team.
CK Akonnor recently revealed his intention to adopt and slightly modify the style of the Black Stars team that defeated Uganda 2-0 in the final to win Ghana’s 3rd AFCON.
“I have a tape of the 1978 squad [and observed] how they played. We will modify it a little bit – that [style] has been my idea,” Akonnor told Ghana FA media.
Polo who was a member of the victorious squad has backed CK Akonnor’s decision. He also added that Ghana can even win the World Cup with that style.
“That [style] is the real brand of Ghana football; we call it ‘Agoro’. There were quality players in that squad,” the 63-year-old told Asempa FM.
“If CK says he will adopt the 1978 style of play, he needs to fuse it with his own. And if he can do that, it means we are on course. If we play like that, it means we can go to the World Cup and even win it.”
Mohammed Polo also went to state some of difficulties CK Akonnor might face to succeed with the style.
“The difficult thing [now] is that we so much rely on foreign-based players. I will advise him to have a standing team made up of local players,” Polo added.
“What helped us [in the 1978 squad] is we had ample time [to prepare]. What he can do with the local ones is they have to go to camp and train so he can inculcate the style of the 1978 football, which is the brand of Ghana football”, Polo advised.
“To me, he should start with the local players and he will be on course.”
Ghana after winning their 3rd AFCON in 1978 went on to win their 4th in 1982 after defeating host nation Libya on penalties. The nation has since then not tasted glory.