By Ameenu Shardow
Orlando Wellington will be fired as the national U-20 coach if the team fails to impress at the 8-Nation Tournament in South Africa.
The former Heart of Lions boss was given a second chance to redeem himself after failing miserably with the Black Satellites in last year’s African Youth Championships where the then African and World Champions made a shocking first round exit.
The 2011 Premier League champion with Berekum Chelsea has come under intense pressure after a recent uninspiring 3-0 loss to the national U-17 side, awakening his vociferous critics in the process.
However, George Afriyie who promised to restore the side’s lost glory upon assuming duties as the team’s Management Committee Chairman reveals Wellington has been made aware his job will be on the line of the team fails to make any meaningful impact at the friendly tournament in Cape Town.
“Ghana failed to progress in the last Africa Youth Championships which was staged here in South Africa and so many were surprised when coach Orlando Wellington retained his job,†Afriyie told Accra-based Radio XYZ.
“Many were questioning the motive for maintaining a coach who has failed. And if you look at the selection of various national team coaches, all those who failed to qualify with their respective teams were not retained.
“Coach Frimpong Manso, Duncan and Herbert Addo were all given the boot when they failed to impress with their respective teams but we felt he (Wellington) needed a second chance to prove himself.
“But we have told him we will use this tournament to access his performance so he is aware that if he fails to make it here then it will be the end of him with the team.â€
Ghana runs the risk of suffering yet another humiliation in the friendly tournament if they fail to beat Argentina on Tuesday.
The Black Satellites lost their second group game against hosts South Africa after edging out rivals Nigeria 4-3 in the opening fixture.