Don’t rush for foreign coaches, warns Grant

FORMER Chelsea manager Avram Grant has cautioned Rwanda not to rush for a foreign coach but instead establish a robust football development strategy that will deliver a winning culture. Grant, 59, made the remarks early this week while in Rwanda for the 20th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He told Times Sport that Rwanda has the potential to be a football powerhouse, but must develop a strong strategy to match that vision. He observed that having a good strategy to develop football is a big problem in Africa, yet the continent boasts of natural talent which is not the case in Europe. “If you have good football players you will have more chances of winning, but you must develop those players,” Grant noted. He cautioned the federation not to rush to appoint a foreign coach. “ If you think that you will bring a foreign coach and he immediately performs miracles, no way…... if you take a strategy encompassing the young generation to the old former players, how to train, how to deal with problems, mental strength, coaching style on and off the pitch, then you can develop local football to a good level. Bringing a foreign coach will not help a lot,” he explained. But he said a foreign coach would be ideal for the country’s younger football sides “So what Rwanda needs is a plan for players, a coaching system and learning experience from more developed countries. I think a foreign coach for U-17 and U-19 would help a lot and no doubt Rwanda needs knowledge from other countries,” added the former West Ham and Portsmouth manager. Many foreign coaches have expressed their desire to manage the national team which will soon begin the campaign for Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

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Don’t rush for foreign coaches, warns Grant