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Avram Grant's dark tenure with the Black Stars of Ghana

Black Stars coach Avram Grant made his own bed of arrogance, disrespect and self-centeredness and at the end, was left in the dark.

To their left, their victorious opponents hugged each other, basking in the cheers of thousands clad in the national colours of Cameroon. For them this was more than just a victory over an old foe. It was a victory for team ethic and dedication to a cause. It was a victory for meticulous planning and showing up on the day.

Amidst these scenes, one solitary figure trudged off the pitch into the darkness of the stadium tunnel. Ghana coach Avram Grant looked a beaten man.The Israeli is not the most effusive of persons even on his best day and the loss seemed to have sapped every ounce of bravado left within him.

The image of him walking away, his team still on the pitch, questioning, wondering how their script had suddenly flipped is the one we will remember Avram Grant by.

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It is a disappointing culmination of a relationship that had started so hopefully in November 2015. Ghana had finally landed a big fish to lead its transition from a World Cup fiasco that had ripped the country and the team. Grant’s swagger had taken the interview panel by storm with one remarking later “He has shown us many things and is the best candidate we have interviewed”. The two men he beat to the job were also high quality individuals. One is the national team manager of Peru and the other is an ex La Liga manager.

It will be interesting to note the thoughts of the official who paid such a glowing testimony to Grant after a turbulent year and a half in charge.

Grant has not presided over the worst period in the history Black Stars but he surely has superintended over a wasted opportunity to rebuild a team. The Black Stars that he will leave behind when his time is over is one that has been built to mirror his personality. Dour, predictable and averse to risk. Definitely not a championship winning combination.

Grant liked to be in control of every situation and heading into this AFCON he demanded a free hand to pick a squad that “he was comfortable with”.

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Granted his wish by management, his choice was a majority of his old guard from AFCON 2015 irrespective of their form and invitations to Andrew Yiadom, Bernard Tekpetey and Ebenezer Ofori.

After his team's defeat at the hands of Hugo Broos' majestic unit, it is right that Grant's in game management skills be questioned. His response to whatever tactical question was thrown at him on the pitch by opposing managers was either to throw on Agyeman Badu, a relic of good times lost or Afriyie Acquah who later became a regular after Asamoah Gyan's injury problems. The pattern was repeated in the play-off loss to Burkina Faso as his changes wrestled control away from his team and eventually led to the Stallions finding a late winner.

It was sad to watch a man of great repute look so lost in the dugout at a time when he was supposed to be at his best. He makes it easier to say at a point he gave up on his team.

That will be a painful legacy to carry for Grant but that is what it is. He made his own bed of arrogance, disrespect and self-centeredness and he was allowed to do so by an accommodating football association. Not many will be sad when his contract expires in February.

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