Otto Addo, the head coach of the Black Stars, has articulated his confidence in his newly formed backroom staff, highlighting their collective capacity to elevate the team’s performance under his leadership.

The past week marked the commencement of work for Coach Addo and his assistants—Joseph Laumann, John Paintsil, and Fatawu Dauda—during the team’s training camp in Marrakech, Morocco, in preparation for friendly encounters against Nigeria and Uganda.

In an interview, the 48-year-old coach disclosed his familiarity with his first assistant, Laumann, stemming from their time together in Germany. He underscored Laumann’s expertise, considering him pivotal in the technical team’s decision-making process.

Laumann, holding a UEFA pro-license, brings a wealth of experience from coaching roles with esteemed clubs such as Standard Liege in Belgium, VfL Bochum in Germany, and Barnsley in the English championship.

Coach Addo’s connection with Paintsil traces back to their playing days in the national team, including their joint participation in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Paintsil, previously serving as an assistant coach at Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa, possesses a CAF Licence B coaching certification.

Regarding Dauda, the newly appointed goalkeepers’ trainer, Coach Otto Addo reminisced about their acquaintance during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where Dauda served as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper while Otto Addo worked as a scout for the Black Stars technical team.

“First of all, I knew all of them before the job. I played together with John, but Fatawu I got to know him during the 2014 World Cup, and it is really nice to come together and share our ideas,” he stated.

“Joe (Joseph Laumann), I know him from Germany, and he is absolutely an expert. He has a keen eye for situations, quick reactions, and is attentive to both constructive and destructive aspects that can influence the team’s development. Their contributions are crucial,” Otto added.

Following Ghana’s recent 1-2 loss to Nigeria in a friendly match in Morocco, Coach Otto Addo will lead the Black Stars in their next friendly encounter, a vital component of their preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled for June.