Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has shed light on the reasons behind his decision to appoint Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac as head coach of the Black Stars in 2008.

Rajevac was introduced on a two-year deal and went on to lead Ghana to a historic quarter-final appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Despite narrowly missing out on a semi-final berth after a penalty shootout loss to Uruguay, Rajevac’s impact on the team remains one of the high points of Ghanaian football.

In an interview with Lawson FM, Nyantakyi discussed the factors that guided his choice, particularly the need for a coach with resilience and hunger for success.

“The Black Stars haven’t been performing well. Appointing five coaches in five years without results shows things haven’t been great. So, I wanted someone hungry for success, not someone who had already achieved everything,” Nyantakyi said.

He revealed that Rajevac’s willingness to endure challenges convinced him: “Milovan told me he once traveled 1,000 kilometers on a bus with his former club, Vojvodina, and the players. That showed me he could handle the difficulties in Africa.”

Nyantakyi praised Rajevac’s understanding of African football dynamics, noting similarities between Serbian and African cultures that helped him succeed: “When Milo came, he didn’t disappoint. He excelled.”

Rajevac left his role with Ghana after the World Cup in September 2010, taking up a coaching position with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli.

Meanwhile, the GFA is yet to decide the future of current Black Stars coach Otto Addo following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).