The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced the appointment of Maxwell Konadu as the new coach of Ghana U-23 male team, the Black Meteors.
The current Nsoatreman FC boss, will be supported by Abdul Gazale, a former Asante Kotoko coach as his assistant.
Additionally, Ben Owu, a FIFA U17 World Cup winner in 1991, will serve as the goalkeeper trainer, while Amankwah Mireku, a legend of Hearts of Oak, will take on the role of Team Manager.
The backroom staff also includes Eric Totime as the Physiotherapist, Henry Bart-Plange as the Masseur, and Collins Osei Bonsu and Attah Debango as Equipment Officers. Eli Vorgbe will function as the team’s Video Analyst.
Konadu takes over from Ibrahim Tanko who failed to lead the team to the Olympic Games after faltering in Morocco and exiting the group stage of the U-23 AFCON last year.
According to the GFA, Konadu’s appointment “aligns perfectly with the GFA’s overarching football philosophy of identifying, grooming and continuously improving talented players for the competitive age category teams as well as the senior national team, the Black Stars.
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The 51-year-old was part of the technical team who led Ghana to the 2011 gold medal win during the All African Games in Maputo Mozambique. The appointment means he returns to take charge having led the team in between 2013 and 2014.
With his extensive coaching experience, including stints with Ghana’s U17 and U20 teams, as well as roles as Assistant Coach of the Black Stars, the association is convinced Konadu is well-equipped for his new role.
The GFA highlighted the importance of Konadu’s role in maintaining the flow of talent from the developmental teams to the senior national team, emphasising his key role in nurturing promising players within the Ghanaian football system.
Maxwell Konadu, a former Ghana international who has also played for Upper West Heroes, Asante Kotoko, and Portuguese clubs Unia Leiria and Beira-Mar is revered for his coaching experience on the local scene as well.