New Black Stars head coach C.K Akonnor is widely known to be a strict tactician and often seen to be ‘no-nonsense’.
However, Akonnor does have a funny bone, as seen at the press conference to announce the new Black Stars squad on Tuesday.
Akonnor was happy to make fun of himself when he mispronounced some of the names of the players and their teams when reading out the list.
He, in particular, struggled when pronouncing Jordan Ayew’s club ‘Crystal Palace’, taking it a few times before finally getting right, chuckling as the audience roared with laughter.
However, he drew the biggest laughs of the afternoon with his response to a question about the omission of defender John Boye from the squad.
The journalist put up a spirited defence of John Boye, even going as far as suggesting that Boye was in better form than all the centre-backs called up by Akonnor
“Why is John Boye your brother?” Akonnor enquired, while shaking with laughter.
When the reporter answered “no”, Akonnor asked again: “Are you sure? Or maybe your brother-in-law?”
It was a tension-easing moment which lightened the mood in the auditorium.
To his credit, however, after the room quietened down, Akonnor provided an update on the futures of players like Boye, Jonathan Mensah and Harrison Afful – who were also left out of the squad – with the national team.
“I respect John Boye, Jonathan Mensah and Harrison Afful and the rest. I’ve been a player before and I know what they’ve done for this country. This is my first time and I don’t want to change things too much. But those names are important.”
Boye has played 23 times for French club, Metz this season and scored one goal.
See the video below:
